Kshamenk, the orca who endured over three decades of isolation in a cramped concrete tank, passed away at Mundo Marino on December 14, 2025. For 24 years, he was the only orca in Argentina, living a life of profound loneliness and physical decline that sparked international outrage. His tragic story must fuel the fight for the liberation of all captive cetaceans.

Kshamenk’s death marks the end of a long, agonizing chapter for him. He was originally taken from the wild off the coast of Argentina in 1992 and spent most of his life confined to a pool so small his body was longer than the pool was deep. After his tankmate Belén died in 2000, Kshamenk spent the remainder of his life at the Mundo Marino oceanarium without the companionship of his own species. For one of the most socially complex animals, being alone in this manner is nothing short of torture.

His suffering was visible to all who visited; Kshamenk’s dorsal fin had completely collapsed, and his body bore a permanent curve from decades of swimming in repetitive, tight circles. In the wild, orcas are highly social, intelligent mammals who travel up to 100 miles per day in vast ocean currents. In contrast, witnesses and video footage frequently showed Kshamenk floating motionless for up to 24 hours at a time, a haunting sign of extreme psychological distress and depression. Despite many pleas from In Defense of Animals supporters and activists around the world for Kshamenk to be retired to a sanctuary, he remained a prisoner until his final breath.

Kshamenk’s story is a grim reminder of the inherent cruelty of keeping wide-ranging marine mammals in captivity for entertainment. While this "forgotten orca" is now free from his shallow tank, thousands of other animals continue to suffer in similar conditions worldwide.

Learn more about how we help cetaceans, and please consider donating to support our work.