Image: Natalie Lucier/Flickr/Playback
Kiska is an orca whale who has earned a sad nickname: he’s the loneliest whale on earth. She has lived completely alone since 2011, when her last captive mate died.
The animal was caught in the Icelandic Sea in October 1979 at the age of two. After that, Kiska was sold to Marineland Park in Canada, where she will live as a visitor attraction until the end of her days (photo).
The isolation effect gives clear signals in the behavior of the animal. Kiska no longer plays or trains. Most often she is seen floating motionless, as if she has come to terms with the situation. Sometimes it seems dead.
Over the years, the whale has lost all of its teeth and has been observed circling in the empty tank. It is also common for her to bang her head and body against the concrete and glass walls.
You can see this behavior in images captured by a drone earlier this year. The whale moves, but it is all alone. She is the only survivor among the orcas who lived with her, including her five calves.
Save Kiska
Experts have called the behavior the “worst condition of any orca in captivity.” Today, several animal rights organizations are demanding better conditions for Kiska. Suggestions include taking them to a location with other orcas or similar whales.
But the most urgent action is to get them out of Marineland. Many activists rank the park as one of the “worst places for marine life in the world.” An online petition calling for the whale’s release has already garnered more than 535,000 signatures.
A 2019 study shows that orcas are highly intelligent animals. They are sociable and have one of the largest and most complex brains in the animal kingdom. Therefore, their survival in artificial environments becomes extremely challenging.
Experts say the deaths of the five orca cubs were likely a traumatic episode. “Family bonds, especially between mother and offspring, are extremely strong and important for orcas,” the study states.
In 2019, the Canadian government passed legislation banning the breeding and trading of whales for entertainment purposes.