Their cries echo through rusted gates and cracked concrete walls. Inside what was once a bustling marine attraction in the Canary Islands, two orcas—Kiska and Kohana—have been left to deteriorate in silence.
The abandoned park, shut down late last year due to financial collapse, still holds the massive mammals in grim isolation. Five months later, they’re starving, sunburned, and floating in chemical-stained water that activists say is barely filtered.
“This is a death sentence,” said marine biologist Dr. Luis Carreño, who viewed leaked drone footage of the site. “They are wasting away before our eyes.”
The footage, which surfaced this week on X, shows the once-glorious tanks now choked with algae and debris. Kiska, known as “the loneliest orca in Europe,” can be seen circling the perimeter repeatedly, her dorsal fin bent and lifeless.
Kohana, her only companion, shows signs of skin blistering from constant sun exposure—her only shade a crumbling wall.
“Neither have received vet care since December,” said a whistleblower from the park’s former staff who spoke anonymously to The Guardian. “The electricity runs off a generator, and nobody knows how long that will hold.”
The park’s parent company declared bankruptcy in January, but left the animals behind—citing “legal transfer complications.” Animal rights groups say that’s a cowardly excuse for inaction.
“Five months is how long it takes an orca to die from abandonment,” said PETA spokesperson Emily Carson during a protest outside the Spanish Embassy in London. Images from the protest show dozens dressed in black and wearing orca masks, chanting “Free them now.”
Efforts to remove the whales have been stalled by what critics call “bureaucratic limbo.” The Spanish Ministry of Ecological Transition claims the animals are “under surveillance,” but when asked for specific dates of veterinarian checks, officials offered none.
“This is greenwashing at its worst,” said conservationist Leo Muñoz. “They’re letting these whales rot behind a fence while telling the public it’s fine.”
Social media pressure is mounting. The hashtag #SaveKiskaAndKohana has exploded in recent days, with celebrities joining in. Singer Billie Eilish reposted a viral plea to her 110 million followers, writing: “This is happening RIGHT NOW. And no one’s stopping it.”
Even longtime animal welfare advocate Ricky Gervais weighed in, calling the situation “a horror story playing out in plain sight.” His post was shared over 120,000 times in less than a day.
The orcas’ decline isn’t just emotional—it’s biological. Experts say Kiska has lost nearly 400 pounds in visible mass and is likely experiencing renal distress due to contaminated water. Kohana, meanwhile, appears to have a fractured tooth that’s going untreated.
Their tank—once part of a performance stadium—is now silent. No trainers. No crowds. Just peeling paint and a rising stench.
A coalition of international marine sanctuaries has offered to airlift the animals out and rehabilitate them. But the process is being stalled by ownership disputes, export regulations, and what insiders call “a total lack of urgency” from Canary Island officials.
“It’s logistics over life,” said one rescue worker.
Meanwhile, as the summer heat intensifies and the backup generator flickers daily, both whales are edging closer to the point of no return.
Kiska and Kohana were born into captivity. They’ve never known the wild.
But what they’re experiencing now isn’t captivity.
It’s slow-motion death.
