What is kiska?

Kiska (c. 1979 – August 9, 2023) was a female orca (killer whale) who resided at MarineLand in Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada. She was captured in Icelandic waters in 1979.

Kiska was the last orca in Canada to be held in captivity. The death of her last calf in 2008 left her in a state of near constant grief. For the last 12 years of her life, she lived in complete isolation.

Kiska's captivity sparked significant debate about the ethical implications of keeping orcas in marine parks. Animal welfare activists protested her living conditions and campaigned for her release to a sanctuary. The videos of Kiska swimming aimlessly in her tank and banging her head against the walls went viral on social media, raising awareness about her suffering and the plight of captive orcas in general. This situation highlighted concerns about https://www.wikiwhat.page/kavramlar/animal%20welfare and https://www.wikiwhat.page/kavramlar/orca%20captivity. Her death prompted renewed calls for stricter regulations regarding marine animal captivity and the establishment of more whale sanctuaries.