A 29-year-old killer whale who lived in captivity his whole life has passed away in Tenerife, Spain. Keto had fallen ill at Loro Parque zoo, where he had been staying since his transfer from SeaWorld Orlando in 2006. He was known for fatally attacking a trainer in 2009.
Keto the orca lived a life in captivity until his tragic death
Keto was born back in 1995 at SeaWorld’s park in Orlando, Florida. After that, he was moved around between different parks. At just five years old, he had already performed at every one of SeaWorld’s orca stadiums. Then in 2006, he was transferred to Loro Parque in Tenerife.
A trainer died after a dangerous encounter with Keto
In December 2009, trainer Alexis Martínez was working on Christmas shows at Loro Parque with Keto, who had been born in captivity at SeaWorld. However, on Christmas Eve, a training session took a tragic turn. Keto attacked Martínez, and the trainer later died from his injuries.
Details about the deadly attack on trainer Alexis Martínez
A report about Martínez’s cause of death said he “died due to grave injuries sustained by an orca attack, including multiple compression fractures, tears to vital organs, and the bite marks of the animal on his body.”
Loro Parque publicly announced the passing of Keto
On November 22, Loro Parque posted on Facebook to share the news. The park’s statement said, “Loro Parque is heartbroken by the loss of Keto. With sadness in our hearts, we share the heartbreaking news about the passing of Keto, our beloved 29-year-old male orca. Since 2006, Keto was an extraordinary ambassador for his species, captivating everyone with his majestic presence and unique personality. His departure leaves an irreplaceable void in our hearts and throughout our entire team.”
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The park mourned the loss of an orca who felt like family
“To those who cared for him and shared each day by his side, Keto was far more than an orca – he was family. His memory will live on forever in the hearts of those who had the privilege to know him and learn from him.”
PETA criticized the captivity that led to Keto’s death
PETA spoke about Keto’s death on X. In their post, they said: “A life stolen. Keto should have known the open sea, his family’s love, & freedom. We can honor his memory by standing against animals used in entertainment & never visiting parks that exploit orcas like him. #RIPKeto.”
PETA claimed Keto suffered from the effects of confinement
PETA claims that Keto was “driven insane from confinement” and has called for action to stop other orcas and dolphins from being “subjected to a lifetime of deprivation” and “abuse.”
The Dolphin Project condemned the captivity of orcas like Keto
The Dolphin Project also said that Keto “spent his entire life behind bars” and that “there is something inherently wrong in a society where an orca’s only way out of these dreary concrete stadiums is death.”
Public reactions sparked outrage over SeaWorld and Loro Parque
An X user wrote: “Justice for Keto.” A Reddit user also said: “Everyone is saying fk SeaWorld, and definitely fk them. But they ended their orca breeding program. Loro Parque (where this orca died) still keeps their orca breeding program going, even with all the worldwide criticism. Fk Loro Parque.” Another person added: “Let’s agree to fk them both. F**k animal exploitation and cruelty.”
Loro Parque defended its practices despite the criticism
A spokesperson for Loro Parque said, “There is no truth to any of these absurd claims. Loro Parque has the highest standards of care in the world for all our animals. We are in mourning over the sad passing of Keto, who lived for almost 30 years. PETA is an extremist protest group with no scientific credibility and even attacks other real animal welfare charities.”
Keto’s life may have ended in tragedy, but his story reminds us of the ongoing struggle for the fair treatment of orcas and the people who care for them.