A KILLER WHALE that spent its entire life in captivity and fatally attacked its trainer in 2009 died in a park in the Canary Islands.
Keto, a 6,600-kilogram orca, was forced into incest and “chewed concrete out of madness” before he died aged 29 in Tenerife’s Loro Parque.
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Keto died at the age of 29 at Tenerife Zoo Credit: Solarpix
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A total of 21 veterinarians (pictured) participated in Ket’s necropsy Credit: Solarpix
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Orca pictured with his trainer Alexis Martinez Credit: Solarpix
The zoo confirmed Keto’s death in a statement, saying a team of 21 veterinarians performed an autopsy over the weekend to determine the cause, although the results are not yet available.
The orca, originally born at SeaWorld Orlando in 1995, was transferred to Loro Parque in 2006, where it performed for crowds and was used for breeding.
Ket’s life began in captivity, born as part of SeaWorld’s controversial orca breeding program.
His mother, Kalina, was the first orca to be successfully born at a SeaWorld park, while his father, Kotar, tragically died when a tank door crushed his skull.
Keto was torn from his mother at just four years old and bounced between several SeaWorld parks before being loaned to Loro Parque.
At Loro Parque, Keto was bred with his niece, Kohana, in an unnatural pairing that resulted in multiple calves.
Only one, Adan, survived today. His daughter Vicky died when she was only 10 months old.
Keto’s imprisonment is said to have seriously affected his mental and physical health.
Animal rights groups have documented how he behaved unnaturally and harmfully, such as chewing concrete out of frustration, which severely damaged his teeth.
A tragic new video shows the ‘world’s loneliest orca’ lying almost motionless in a pool
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Keto was pictured with rotten teeth after chewing concrete ‘out of madness’Credit: PETA
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He was also seen floating aimlessly out of boredomCredit: PETA
Like many orcas in captivity, he was often seen floating aimlessly, a sign of boredom and distress.
On Christmas Eve 2009, Keto killed his trainer, 29-year-old Alexis Martinez, during a rehearsal for a Christmas play.
Keto pulled Martinez underwater, causing fatal injuries, including broken bones and organ damage.
Martinez expressed concern to his girlfriend before the incident, saying he was afraid “something could happen at any time.”
The attack occurred under the supervision of a SeaWorld trainer and came just two months before another orca killed trainer Dawn Brancheau in front of an audience at SeaWorld Orlando.
These tragedies highlighted the dangers of keeping orcas in captivity and prompted SeaWorld to briefly suspend work with whales in the water.
PETA and other animal rights groups have long condemned the captivity of orcas, pointing to Ket’s life as a glaring example of exploitation.
Both SeaWorld and Loro Parque have been criticized for subjecting him to a life of captivity in small tanks, depriving him of the ability to swim long distances or form natural social bonds.
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Orca was born at SeaWorld Orlando in 1995. Credit: Solarpix
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Trainers shake hands with Keto to calm him down for the endoscopic procedure. Credits: Solarpix
PETA also noted that Keto’s mixed genetic background – 75% Icelandic and 25% southern orca – would never occur in the wild, as these populations are separated by great distances and have different social structures.
Keto’s unnatural breeding and life in captivity, they argue, deprived him of his natural existence.
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 for the sad death of Ket, who lived for almost 30 years.
“PETA is an extremist protest group that has no scientific credibility and even attacks other genuine animal welfare charities.”
Loro Parque mourned Ket as a “beloved ambassador” who “charmed everyone with his unique personality”.
However, the zoo did not mention the trainer’s death in 2009 in its statement.
Instead, he highlighted the challenges of providing veterinary care for large orcas and highlighted Ket’s life expectancy, noting that 29 years is the average for male orcas in the wild.
Critics, however, argue that captivity was the real cause of Ket’s early death. In the wild, male orcas can live up to 60 or 70 years.
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Alexis’ chest was crushed by an orca during training in 2009. Credit: Solarpix
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Alexis with Dawn Brancheau – who was killed by an orca just two months later at SeaWorld in OrlandoCredit: Solarpix
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