Kshamenk
The Whale The World Forgot
Kshamenk is a 35 year old male orca that has spent more than three decades in captivity, confined to the smallest orca tank in the world, at Mundo Marino, in Argentina. Kshamenk was captured from the wild in 1992 off the coast of Buenos Aires, when he was 4–6 years old.
Today, he is the only captive orca in South America, and one of the most heartbreaking symbols of marine mammal captivity.
Originally part of a pod that roamed the Atlantic waters of Argentina, Kshamenk was reportedly “rescued” after a stranding incident. However, many animal welfare experts and activists believe Mundo Marino deliberately caused the stranding to capture orcas for display in order to circumvent Argentina’s strict laws against capturing wild orcas for entertainment. He was never released.
Since then, he has been trapped at Mundo Marino, where he’s been forced to perform for decades. The tank he lives in is shockingly small for an orca. Kshamenk is 19 feet long and spends most of his days just lying on the bottom of his barren 20 feet deep tank, occasionally coming up for air.
In contrast, wild orcas swim up to 150 kilometers per day in complex ocean ecosystems. In captivity, Kshamenk can’t even dive or turn properly.
Kshamenk hasn’t seen another orca since 2000 when his tankmate — a female orca named Belén — died. Orcas form exceptionally strong social bonds, often living in lifelong family groups. Isolation causes significant psychological distress in orcas, leading to depression, aggression, and stereotypical, repetitive behaviors.
The only companion Kshamenk has is a female bottlenose dolphin named Floppy.
Kshamenk lives at Mundo Marine but is owned by the Argentinian government. Public awareness and pressure are crucial to get the government to take action.
Timeline
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1986–1988 (approx.) – Kshamenk is born
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November 19, 1992 – Kshamenk is captured
near San Clemente del Tuyú. Mundo Marino claims it was a “rescue” following a stranding. Since then he’s kept in Mundo Marino with Belén, female orca.
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February 4, 2000 – Belén dies.
Kshamenk hasn’t seen another one of his species ever since, making him one of the most socially deprived orcas in captivity.
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2002 NMFS receives an application from SeaWorld to import Kshamenk’s sperm
Despite Argentina’s laws against the commercial exploitation of wildlife, SeaWorld has since used Kshamenk’s genetic material for breeding in its U.S. parks, without ever housing or caring for him directly.
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July 6, 2022 – The first version of the Ley Kshamenk is introduced in the Argentine Senate
Aiming to ban marine mammal shows and captivity unless for rehabilitation and reintegration purposes. The bill does not advance.
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November 3, 2023 – The Ley Kshamenk is reintroduced in the Chamber of Deputies
by the NGO Derechos Animales Marinos (DAM) and other advocates. They present over 690,000 signatures supporting the bill. The proposal seeks to prohibit marine mammal shows and captivity without rehabilitation purposes, and to penalize the commercialization of their genetic material.
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NOW – Kshamenk remains in captivity at Mundo Marino
Together with DAM and other activists we continue to push for his removal and passage of the Ley Kshamenk.
REcent footage updates
CAMPAIGn with Seaspiracy MAy 2025
Update April 2025
