This is the shocking moment an orca was left bleeding next to her pool after a serious injury at an aquarium show.
The footage, filmed in Shanghai’s Haichang Ocean Park, shows the orca being forced by a trainer to pose with its tail and head curled upwards as it lies next to the tank.
But as it moves its left fin, blood can be seen gushing out as shocked onlookers gasp in horror.
The orca was then seen gliding back into the water and raising its head expectantly into the air, before its trainer gave it some fish.
The social media user who captured and shared the images on November 10 said the animal was injured during the show, which the Haichang Ocean Park confirmed to local media the next day.
As it moves its left fin, blood can be seen gushing out as shocked onlookers gasp in horror.
Park officials said the orca had been accidentally scratched while playing with toys and that its trainers had taken care of it as soon as they noticed it was bleeding.
The orca was then seen gliding back into the water and raising its head expectantly into the air, before its trainer gave it some fish.
Park officials said the orca He had been accidentally scratched while playing with toys and that his trainers had taken him in as soon as they noticed he was bleeding.
Keeping orcas in captivity is deeply controversial around the world, with many activists claiming the practice is cruel and often leads to a massive decrease in life expectancy.
Animal conservation groups, including PETA and the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Campaign, report enormous psychological problems with captive orcas.
Up to 90% of captive male orcas suffer from dorsal fin collapse, a condition often associated with stress.
Often, the living conditions of an orca are very different when in captivity and bear little resemblance to wild habitats. They are given very little space to swim and the water itself is often chemically treated.
In addition to this, their social groups are very different, resulting in aggression. towards themselves, towards other orcas or towards humans, which is a result of stress.