Male “sexually stimulated” to avoid inbreeding

A male whale whale in a closed sea zoo is stimulated sexually by his trainers to stop him from entering his mother.

Marineland Antibes closed in January But managers, the French government and animal rights activists did not agree where or how the orcs should be restored.

The closure comes to French law, which enters into force in December, which prohibits the use of whales in the naval zoo.

The disaster means that the couple – 24 -year -old Wikie, and her 11 -year -old son Keijo – are still in their pools and taking care of their trainers at the facility in southern France.

Last week, the activist group Tidebreakers received above ground footage showing two trainers standing on the edge of a pool to Kiyo while it is head down.

One coach keeps sailing as the other stimulates the whale that can be seen in the water.

Wikie can be seen in a neighboring pool, facing where her son behaves.

The shots were made on August 12th and the managers at Marineland Tell BBC News that the action is necessary as Cago reaches adolescence and has increasingly strong sexual urges.

“To avoid inbreeding with his mother, but also to prevent them from fighting and injuring each other, Marineland decided to stimulate sexual tension Cago (to release him from his) tension.”

Managers add: “Although grand, it’s natural and completely painless for animals.”

The French Ministry of Ecology, which has to approve of where the orcs have been repaired, say that they have been informed by Marineland that Keijo is stimulated once a month and that a veterinary expert for the process has been consulted.

Valerie Green, a member of Tidebreakers who have worked at Seaworld Orlando for a decade, tells us that stimulating Keijo for sexual relief is unusual.

“As a former coach of murder whales, I have never seen this behavior be performed for something different from trying a collection of semen for use in artificial insemination.”

Female orcs held captive in sea zoos can be artificially inseminated to grow more calves that can later be used to attract more visitors and perform shows.

It was quite often until the last decade, when laws were adopted in countries, including France and the United States, banning several breeding practices.

However, breeding laws in Japan are less strict and activists believe that maritime zoo managers may be interested in buying ORCA sperm after the only male Orca in the country died on August 3.

Just over a week after his death, Marineland’s coaches were spotted stimulating Cago.

Green adds: “Keijo is inbrid, so he is even more concerned that his semen can be used to grow captive orcs.” Kiho’s mother and father are half -sister.

Marineland managers deny that Cago was stimulated. They add that the sale of semen is prohibited and any exports will need permission from the French government.

The French Ministry of Ecology claims that Marineland also told them that they did not intend to collect and wear ORCA sperm for breeding purposes.

“Despite the reasoning, it is sad that this is a priority when Keho has to be desperately saved because his environment is dangerous,” Green says.

“The idea that trainers provide ORCA sexual relief … is a perverted new low level in the morally bankrupt practices of the captive industry.”

• November 2024: Ecology Minister Agnès Pannier-Runacher rejects a Marineland application to move orcs to a marine zoo to Japan.

• January 2025: Marineland Antibes is running its last show before closing. Activist groups call on the orcs to be moved to the proposed whale sanctuary in Canada, but this was rejected by the Ministry of Ecology.

Since then, there have been no significant developments about where the couple can be found and no European sanctuary site has been developed for them.

There are also concerns about the conditions in Marineland and whether it is safe for Wiki and Kiyo to stay there.

Two weeks ago, the Pannier-Runacher released another video on Instagram, in which she tried to relieve the fears of Orcas’s well-being and said regular pool checks were being carried out.

Catherine Wise, Wildlife Campaign Manager in the Animal Charity Protection, which monitors the situation, tells us: “It is honest to say that the passivity of the French government when it comes to activating alternatives for these animals, and communication with the development of professional sanctuaries.

Turning animals after the zoo closure is often difficult, especially for larger animals that require larger facilities and higher levels of care.

When Living Coasts, a naval zoo in Devon, announced its closure in 2020, managers warned that they may need to euthanize animals for which they cannot find new homes. In the end, places were found for all of them.

After the Orsa Predator Park in Sweden closed in 2022, some of their polar bears have not found new homes until next year. Two of Bears have been transported to Suffolk But a man died shortly after his arrival.

Following a request of a French court, an expert evaluation is carried out by Marineland facilities and whether the orcs and a dozen dolphins are still housed there, they must be moved.

The French Ministry of Ecology told us: “A working group, created by the Ministry, works under the auspices of Ambassador Barbara Pompi, to define a coordinated strategy at European level on the care of orcs and dolphins, especially those in Marineland.”

For Marketa Schusteterova, a video co -founder of Tidebreakers, the situation for Wikie and Keijo is gloomy.

She says, “We have advocated for the temporary reservoir, which will be built and accelerated until the sanctuary is ready, but we worry that we have gone at that moment. The time is expiring.”