Social media users are coming together in support of the #FreeKiska movement after disturbing footage of an orca hitting her head against the side of her enclosure went viral. Members of the public were outraged after witnessing this devastating sight.
According to reports, Kiska, the killer whale, was captured in in Iceland in 1979. She was three at the time before being purchased by the aquarium MarineLand, located in Niagara Falls, Canada.
As Unilad explains, Kiska is said to have given birth to five calves, all of which have passed away while her mates have either died or relocated to other facilities. Since 2011, she’s been the last surviving orca at MarineLand.
A marine mammal trainer, Phil Demers, who worked at the aquarium, is now advocating for Kiska’s release after sharing a video of Kiska floating around in her tank.
These videos were taken from two different perspectives, and shows Kiska causing water to splash out of her enclosure as she repeatedly bashes her head against the wall.
These videos contain content some viewers may find distressing:
Watch:
This video was taken on Sept 4th, 2021. Anti-captivity activists entered MarineLand and observed Kiska, their last surviving orca bashing her head against the wall. Please watch and share. This cruelty must end. #FreeKiska pic.twitter.com/uKCxF1AScz
— Phil Demers (@walruswhisperer) September 8, 2021
This video was taken on Sept 4th, 2021. Anti-captivity activists entered MarineLand and observed Kiska, their last surviving orca bashing her head against the wall. Please watch and share. This cruelty must end. #FreeKiska pic.twitter.com/sBCaKleH19
— Phil Demers (@walruswhisperer) September 8, 2021
Meanwhile, several petitions have been doing the rounds on Twitter with some users saying “Kiska does not deserve to be imprisoned like this” while others are calling it “Barbaric cruelty, disguised as “entertainment””.
Picture: Screenshot