Wolfgang Kiessling, owner of Loro Parque on Tenerife, Spain, says he now plans to proceed with their project to build a larger enclosure for the orcas currently housed at the facility.
According to Kiessling, the company has purchased plots of land around the park, planning to relocate the aquarium which is currently next to the orca tanks, using that space to expand ‘Orca Ocean’. Plans may also include a tunnel, although whether this will be for the public to walk through to view the orcas or be used to move the whales between tanks is currently unclear. If the permit is passed Kiessling hopes to commence construction in 2021.
‘Orca Ocean’ which opened in 2006, currently holds seven orcas; Adan, a male born at the park in 2010, wild-born Morgan who gave birth to Ula, a female calf in 2018 and four orcas initially transferred from SeaWorld parks – two males, Keto and Tekoa and two females, Kohana and Skyla all sent on lease, however, all orcas are now under the ownership of Loro Parque.
