Loro Parque's captive breeding condemns another orca to lifelong captivity

Morgan was rescued in 2010 after being found malnourished off the Dutch coast, with the original intent of rehabilitation and release. Instead, she was transferred to Loro Parque in Tenerife, where she has remained in captivity ever since. This will be her second calf; her first calf, Ula, tragically died before reaching three years of age. Despite the initial rescue permit's stipulation against using Morgan for shows or breeding, she has been a central figure in Loro Parque's performances, portrayed as a 'saved' orca rather than one exploited for profit.

Pictured: Keto, who passed away at Loro Parque, performing in front of an audience

The news of Morgan's pregnancy comes amid ongoing controversy surrounding Loro Parque, particularly regarding the anticipated transfer of orcas Wikie and Keijo from the recently closed Marineland Antibes. Animal protection organisations, including World Animal Protection, have campaigned for these orcas to be relocated to a seaside sanctuary in Nova Scotia, as proposed by the Whale Sanctuary Project. However, the French Ministry for Ecological Transition has not approved this plan, raising concerns that the orcas may instead be sent to Loro Parque, where they will spend the rest of their lives in small, barren tanks. 

Wolfgang Kiessling, founder and owner of Loro Parque, has defended the facility, stating, "There is no sanctuary like ours." However, Loro Parque continues to subject orcas and dolphins to circus-like performances, a practice that contradicts the principles of true sanctuaries, which prioritise allowing animals to engage in natural behaviours in environments that closely resemble their wild habitats. 

Last week, World Animal Protection and other NGOs challenged travel giant TUI's leadership at their AGM regarding their animal welfare policy. The policy claims to prohibit the sale of tickets to venues that breed whales and dolphins for commercial purposes, yet TUI continues to promote venues like Loro Parque. In response, TUI's leadership stated they stand by their policy but will make exceptions if breeding is deemed beneficial to the social structure of the group. This justification overlooks the cruelty of confining these intelligent, social animals to barren tanks, where breeding serves only to produce more animals destined for a lifetime of exploitation. 

Katheryn Wise, Wildlife Campaigns Manager at World Animal Protection, expressed her outrage: 

“To still be breeding whales and dolphins in captivity is absolutely shocking and the argument that it allows natural behaviours is surely a thinly-veiled attempt to cover up breeding for commercial purposes. Given nothing about whale and dolphin venues is natural – there is no hunting, no natural social groupings, shows consist of circus tricks performed in exchange for thawed out frozen fish – it seems convenient that the one natural behaviour that TUI are protective over is breeding. This is the one behaviour that will condemn newborn calves to a lifetime in captivity for the profit of venues and travel companies selling tickets.  

“TUI’s ‘welfare’ policy is nothing more than a greenwashing exercise, full of loopholes which allow venues to keep churning out dolphins to suffer for the sake of profit – TUI leadership should be ashamed.”  

TUI must stop profiting from whale and dolphin entertainment, and ensure this is the last generation of cetaceans subjected to a miserable, painful and stressful life in captivity.