Marineland in the south of France has announced the sudden death of 12-year-old male orca Moana. A postmortem examination has been carried out to help determine the cause of death, initial results will be known in the coming weeks. However, for some time, there has been ongoing concern over the unsuitable conditions in which all four orcas are being held at Marineland, Antibes. Tanks covered with algae – such dire conditions for these magnificent marine mammals to be living in, day after day.
Moana was born at Marineland in 2011 as a result of artificial insemination, his mother Wikie, was born at Marineland in 2001, and his father Ulises was wild-caught from Icelandic waters in 1980 and has been held at SeaWorld San Diego, USA for almost 30 years.
Each year, thousands of people visit marine parks, buying a ticket to see dolphins and whales perform
– but at what cost to the animals?
