Captive Orcas Imported To Tenerife

Thursday, February 16, 2006
CANARY ISLANDS, SPAIN - In the first import of orcas into the European Union for more than ten years, four animals from SeaWorld in the USA have arrived at a new captive orca facility at Loro Parque, Tenerife.

Despite protests from WDCS and other organisations that the import of these animals would occur in violation of EU CITES (Convention for International Trade in Endangered Species) legislation, the orcas have been moved to the tourist park in the north of Tenerife.

EU CITES legislation currently bans trade in cetaceans for commercial purposes. It is not yet clear what the details of the deal between Loro Parque and SeaWorld were, nor why this import of orcas was allowed to go ahead.

Loro Parque has spent four years building an ‘Orca Ocean’, a 120 metre pool that will house four orcas, where the animals are expected to perform for paying visitors.

The orca pool will sit alongside the park’s existing ‘attractions’, which include a dolphinarium and penguin pool.

Many people are unaware of the suffering caused to orcas in captivity, and continue to pay to see them. With a low survival rate in captivity, WDCS is gravely concerned that further orcas will be captured from the wild to be housed in a tank and forced to perform for people’s entertainment.

Orcas suffer extreme emotional and physical distress when confined in captivity. Evidence of this can be found in the high rate of infant mortality, shorter life expectancy and aggressive behaviour, often found in captivity.

Sadly, WDCS believes this import of orcas into Tenerife can only lead to the further suffering of these animals.

Thanks to everyone who responded to our action alert and sent e-cards to the Spanish authorities asking them to deny the import. Although it looks as though we did not win our campaign this time, the level of opposition to the imports did not go unnoticed, no doubt contributed significantly to their decision-making on this issue and will help WDCS with future campaigns to end to captures and international trade in orcas.

Source: WDCS