An orca that spent its entire life in captivity and fatally attacked its trainer in 2009 has died in a zoo in Tenerife.
Male orca Keto died at age 29 after “showing signs of discomfort in recent days,” according to Loro Parque in northern Tenerife, where the 6,600-pound Keto had lived since 2006 following his move from Seaworld in Orlando.
A total of 21 vets took part in the weekend necropsy, although the cause of death has not yet been made public and further tests are now being carried out which are expected to take around a week to complete.
The animal rights organization PETA has attacked Keto who had to spend “a life of exploitation and confinement in small tanks in various “abuse” parks.
At Loro Parque, Keto allegedly displayed unnatural behaviors such as biting into cement, which caused his teeth to wear down completely or partially. Keto also seemed to be “floating aimlessly” out of boredom and distress, PETA saying.
On Christmas Eve 2009, he launched a bloody attack against one of his trainers, Alexis Martínez, 29, who had worked with orcas for several years.
The pair were working together on that year’s Christmas show in a lap pool when Keto pulled him under water.
Alexis’ injuries include multiple compression fractures, tears to vital organs and bite marks.
A total of 21 vets took part in Keto’s necropsy at the weekend, although the cause of death has not yet been made public and further tests are now being carried out which are expected to take around a week to conclude.
Male orca Keto (pictured) died at age 29 after “showing signs of discomfort in recent days,” according to Loro Parque in northern Tenerife.
On Christmas Eve 2009, he launched a bloody attack on one of his trainers, Alexis Martínez (pictured), 29, who had worked with orcas for several years.
Heartbreaking footage of the experienced trainer in action resurfaced earlier this year. He had confided in his girlfriend before the tragedy that “something could happen at any moment.”
SeaWorld briefly stopped aquatic work with whales at three of its parks immediately after Alexis’ death.
It happened two months before Seaworld trainer Dawn Brancheau was murdered 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 long statement confirming that the animal had died.
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 for 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, particularly for the trainers and veterinarians who shared their daily lives with Keto.
‘The relationship that develops between our animals and all of us who work at Loro Parque goes beyond the professional, becoming a deep bond full of love and mutual respect.
It took four trainers to handle 6,600-pound Keto and sedate him for an endoscopy procedure (pictured above).
‘In recent days, Keto had shown signs of discomfort. Our veterinary team and international specialists took every measure possible to help.
‘Unfortunately, despite intense efforts and the exhaustion of all available resources, this tragic outcome could not be avoided. From a veterinary diagnostic perspective, orcas, particularly large individuals like Keto, present unique challenges.
“Their anatomy complicates the use of tools such as ultrasound, which cannot reach their internal organs, and their size makes examinations with technologies such as CT scan 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 carry out 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 passing; Studies show that the average lifespan of males in the wild is 29 years, which puts Keto within the average for its species.’
Loro Parque said Keto’s mother, Kalina, was the first orca born at a Seaworld theme park.
The statement continued: “For the Loro Parque family, Keto was not only an ambassador of his species, but an irreplaceable being who left an indelible mark on our hearts.
‘His memory will live on in those who were lucky enough to know him and in all those who, thanks to him, learned to admire orcas. Rest in peace, dear Keto. We will always remember you with the greatest love and gratitude.”
Keto was one of four orcas kept at Loro Parque, two males and two females.
Earlier this year, zoo owner Wolfgang Kiessling launched a controversial attack on animal rights organizations such as PETA and WAP, which have been highly critical of the keeping of orcas in captivity, calling them “eco-terrorists.”