A killer whale that spent its entire life in captivity and fatally attacked its trainer in 2009 has died at a zoo in Tenerife.
Male orca Keto died at the age of 29 after “showing signs of discomfort in recent days”, according to Loro Parque in northern Tenerife, where Keto had weighed around 2,000 kilos since 2006 after his move from Seaworld in Orlando .
A total of 21 vets took part in the autopsy this weekend, although the cause of death has not yet been made public and further testing is now taking place which is expected to take around a week.
Animal rights organization PETA has now lashed out after Keto spent a ‘lifetime’ being exploited and locked up in small tanks in various ‘abuse parks’.
In Loro Parque, Keto reportedly exhibited unnatural behavior, such as biting on concrete, which caused some or all of his teeth to become worn down. Keto also seemed to be “floating aimlessly” out of boredom and anxiety. PETA said.
On Christmas Eve 2009, it launched a bloody attack on one of its trainers, 29-year-old Alexis Martinez, who had been working with orcas for several years.
The pair were working together at that year’s Christmas show in a training pool when Keto pulled him underwater.
Alexis’ injuries, including multiple compression fractures, tears to vital organs and bite wounds.
A total of 21 vets took part in Keto’s necropsy this weekend, although the cause of death has not yet been made public and further testing is now taking place which is expected to take around a week.
Male orca Keto (pictured) died at the age of 29 after ‘showing signs of discomfort in recent days’, according to Loro Parque in northern Tenerife
On Christmas Eve 2009, it launched a bloody attack on one of its trainers, 29-year-old Alexis Martinez (pictured), who had been working with orcas for years.
Heartbreaking footage emerged earlier this year of the experienced trainer in action. He had confided in his girlfriend before the tragedy that “something could happen at any time.”
SeaWorld briefly stopped water work with whales at three of its parks immediately after Alexis’ death.
It took place two months before Seaworld trainer Dawn Brancheau was killed in front of thousands of spectators at the Orlando attraction in an incident that made headlines around the world.
Loro Parque made no mention of the death of Keto’s former trainer in a lengthy statement confirming the animal’s death.
It read: ‘It is with great sadness that we share the news of the loss of our beloved 29-year-old male orca Keto.
Born on June 17, 1995 at SeaWorld Orlando, Keto became part of the Loro Parque family in 2006, where he served for years as an extraordinary ambassador of his species, captivating everyone with his commanding presence and unique personality.
‘There are no words to express the depth of this loss for our entire Loro Parque team, especially for the trainers and veterinarians who shared their daily lives with Keto.
‘The relationship that develops between our animals and everyone who works at Loro Parque goes beyond the professional and becomes a deep bond full of love and mutual respect.
It took four trainers to handle 6,600 pounds of Keto to sedate him for an endoscopy procedure (photo above)
‘Over the past few days, Keto has been showing signs of discomfort. Our veterinary team and international specialists have done everything they can to help.
‘Unfortunately, despite intensive efforts and exhausting all available resources, this tragic outcome could not be prevented. From a veterinary diagnostic perspective, killer whales – especially large individuals like Keto – present unique challenges.
‘Their anatomy makes it difficult to use tools such as ultrasounds, which cannot reach their internal organs, and their size makes examinations with technologies such as CT scans difficult.’
Additionally, orcas tend to hide signs of illness – an instinctive behavior to avoid showing weakness within their group – further complicating their veterinary care.
“We will conduct a thorough pathological examination in collaboration with experts from the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria to determine the cause of his death,” the park said.
‘Keto lived almost 30 years before his sad demise – research shows that the average life expectancy for males in the wild is 29 years, putting Keto within the average for his species.’
Loro Parque said Keto’s mother Kalina was the first orca born in a Seaworld theme park.
The statement continued: “For the Loro Parque family, Keto was not only an ambassador of his kind, but an irreplaceable being who left an indelible mark on our hearts.
‘His memory will live on by those who were fortunate enough to know him and by all those who, thanks to him, learned to admire orcas. Rest in peace, dear Keto. We will always remember you with the deepest love and gratitude.”
Keto was one of four orcas kept at Loro Parque, two males and two females.
Earlier this year, the zoo’s owner, Wolfgang Kiessling, launched a controversial attack on animal rights groups such as PETA and WAP, which were highly critical of the captivity of orcas and labeled them “eco-terrorists.”