News Archives

July, 2002

Fight for Kshamenk goes on

WSPA, along with a legion of animal welfare advocates, continues to fight against the killer whale's export from Argentina to Six Flags' Worlds of Adventure Amusement Park in Ohio. While disappointed with the decision by the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) earlier this year to give Six Flags permission to import two killer whales for its orca display, WSPA remains determined to keep Kshamenk out of park's clutches.

Kshamenk, a ten-year-old orca who was "rescued" under questionable circumstances after being stranded off the Argentinean coast in 1992, is at the center of a heated debate concerning the keeping of killer whales in captivity. Evidence suggests that Kshamenk may have been intentionally stranded or, at the very least, illegally contained following a natural stranding. After being stranded, Kshamenk was brought into captivity by Mundo Marino, an Argentinean marine park, under the guise of a rescue and rehabilitation effort.

Regardless of whether or not Kshamenk was intentionally stranded, Mundo Marino never made any effort to rehabilitate the young killer whale or return him to the wild as stranding policy dictates. Instead they trained him to perform tricks as part of their orca display. Experts feel that Kshamenk needs to be evaluated by an independent panel to determine if this orca is a candidate for release and, if so, returned to his native waters. Until this evaluation can be assured, however, one thing is certain: if Six Flags is permitted to bring this killer whale to their facility in Ohio, and if he survives the stress of transport, Kshamenk will be forever locked into a life of captivity.

Shouka, the adolescent female orca from France, slated to be Kshamenk's companion, arrived at Six Flags' facility in May immediately following NMFS giving the park the green light to proceed with her importation. Shouka now spends her days floating in the man-made salt-water pool that is her new home. She is one of 48 orcas currently condemned to live in captivity, half of which are in marine parks in the United States.

Concerns about Six Flags' plans to import these two orcas are heightened due to the recent deaths of two killer whales living under the care of Six Flags' management. The deaths of these two orcas in such a short period of time demonstrates that this company is not capable of providing for the necessary health care or a suitable living environment for these sensitive marine mammals.

The sense of urgency is high as Six Flags continues to push for Kshamenk's export to Ohio. There is still time to save Kshamenk from a future spent entertaining visitors at Six Flags.