Ottawa: Kiska, dubbed the world's loneliest orca, died last week at MarineLand theme park in Niagara Falls, Canada after spending nearly four decades in captivity. For the last 12 years, she was alone and sad.
The 47-year-old reportedly died from a bacterial infection. In 2012, the Toronto Star published a series of stories in which a former staff member alleged that marine animals are kept in tanks with poor water quality. Insufficient staffing is also a problem contributing to the suffering of animals at the park.
In one of the last recorded videos, Kiska was seen drifting with no energy or enthusiasm in the featureless water tank she was kept in. A boy was seen behind the glass wall calling to get her attention but she floated away not concerned with the visitor.
Kiska is a killer whale, also known as an orca. Wild orcas are social and intelligent animals that live in tight-knit family pods. They hut together and communicate using underwater clicks and calls. She was the last captive orca in Canada and her death has raised calls for better protection of cetaceans. Her health was reported to be declining in the last few years.
Kiska had no calves, mate, or mother by her side in the last years. She was captured in 1979 in Iceland along with Keiko. Both were brought to MarineLand where they lived together. Keiko was later sold to a Mexican park, rehabilitated, and released back into her Icelandic home waters. Kiska remained in Canada. She gave birth to five calves and all of them died. She had a tank mate named Ikaika until he was taken back to his original owner SeaWorld in California.
Four years ago, Canada passed bill S-203 which banned the captivity and breeding of whales, dolphins, and porpoises. But animals like Kiska, who was already in captivity, were excluded from protection. Animal rights activists have been working hard to earn her freedom.