KISKA

 

Kiska was forcibly taken from her family, off the coast of Iceland in 1979, at roughly the tender age of two. She arrived at Marineland, in Niagara Falls, on October 1st, 1979 and has remained there ever since.

Throughout the decades, she has had several tank mates and throughout those decades, she has seen them all either moved away from her, or die. What is more devastating is that Kiska has a 100% infant mortality rate. She has had five calves at Marineland and she has seen all five of them die. 

Some experts believe orcas are even more emotional than human beings are, and we know they have very strong family bonds– possibly stronger and more intense than we even do. So, I’d like to ask you, especially if you’re a parent, to think about that for a moment…Kiska has lost five babies, not all in one blow either. That would be unimaginable in itself, but one after the other, over the years…slowly, painfully. Her eldest calf, Hudson, survived to be almost six years old. This gave Kiska plenty of time to bond–then he died. Athena was Kiska’s last calf and only daughter. She lived to be almost 5 yrs old—then, she also died. Since Athena’s death, it has been said that Kiska has never been the same. How could she be?

Kiska has resided in complete isolation for over 5 years now. There is no amount of enrichment she could be provided with via her trainers that could possibly compensate for her isolation.

Science has demonstarted that orca are extremley intelligent, highly sociable, wide-ranging and incredibly emotional complex beings. To keep them in captivity, in an unatural setting, confined to such a miniscule space is horrible in itself but to then keep one in solitary confinemet is simply unspeakable.....

 

EXPERT QUOTES

 

"Since killer whales were taken into captivity approximately 50 years ago, we’ve learned a lot about their physiology & social behaviors, primarily from research on wild populations. Orca are known to be free ranging, and also to be more social than humans. Many killer whale subcultures remain in family units traveling the oceans together. Within that context, it’s become clear that Kiska’s situation at Marineland amounts to cruelty.  Years of being bored or alone has left her with no viable teeth from chewing on concrete & parts of her facility. Science has demonstrated that captivity is detrimental for killer whales, but Kiska’s situation is amplified by the fact that she is not only confined, but alone. I am told that a plan is being considered to move Kiska to a seapen facility. If your institution can allow for this plan to move forward, I hope you’ll consider what’s best for Kiska."

 

Jeffrey Ventre MD 

SeaWorld Trainer 1987-1995 “

 

 

 

“Kiska is something that just breaks my heart. I have to be honest and just say that I often consciously find myself blocking her out of my mind because it’s just so horrific, the condition she lives in as a solitary animal and I just think IT IS THE HEIGHT OF CRUELTY for animals like that.”

 

John Hargrove~ Former Senior Trainer at SeaWorld, who was featured in the blockbuster movie “Blackfish” and is the New York Times best-selling author of “Beneath the Surface.”

 

"To Whom it may concern: I have seen Kiska's situation at Marineland Canada first-hand and her circumstances are deplorable and inhumane. Killer whales are highly intelligent social creature who spend their lives in the company of their family members. Yet for some reason, Kiska has spent the last four years of her life in a leaky, barren tank with no companionship other than that of her human trainers. For killer whales, this amounts to extreme cruelty, and the emotional and physical consequences or her continued isolation are likely to be devastating."

 

Samantha Berg~ Former SeaWorld Trainer - Cast Member in the movie "Blackfish"

 

 

“Kiska’s situation is unique in the world – she is the only captive orca being held entirely isolated from other marine mammals. Lolita in the US and Kshamenk in Argentina have other dolphins to interact with – Kiska has no one. She spends endless hours floating listlessly, neurotically circling, inside her own head in a way we can only liken to prisoners in solitary confinement. Except, she has no understanding of why this is her life. It is imperative the government do something to improve her welfare – it is inhumane in the extreme to leave her as she is.”

 

Dr. Naomi Rose~ Marine Mammal Scientist