07/09/2024
Loro Parque: A Prison for Animals?
Loro Parque, which opened in 1972 on Tenerife, attracts millions of tourists with its shows featuring dolphins, orcas, and other animals. However, behind the façade of "conservation," lies a harsh reality: the daily exploitation and death of animals. Over more than 50 years, an estimated 1,500 animals have died within the walls of this park, including parrots, sea lions, dolphins, and orcas.
Dolphins and Orcas: Prisoners Under Torture
Loro Parque houses 10 dolphins and 4 orcas, who suffer from daily physical and psychological torment. These animals are forced to live in small tanks where their natural ability to echolocate becomes a source of suffering. In confined spaces, sound waves bounce off the tank walls, causing acoustic overload, which results in severe psychological and physical damage. Instead of enjoying the freedom of the ocean, these intelligent creatures are forced to perform tricks for frozen fish.
Deadly Statistics
In captivity, orcas and dolphins live much shorter lives than in the wild. While orcas in the wild can live up to 60-80 years, in captivity, their average lifespan is only about 14 years. In the past few years alone, at least three orcas have died at Loro Parque — Ula (2 years old), Skyla (17 years old), and Kohana (20 years old). These animals died in conditions far removed from what they would experience in the wild.
The Death of Hundreds of Animals
With more than 4,000 animals currently held at Loro Parque, it is estimated that as many as 1,500 animals have died over the past five decades. Many of these deaths were caused by illnesses stemming from stress and unnatural living conditions, while others died as a result of incidents during performances(
Whales Online
)(
PETA UK
).
Visiting Loro Parque Means Supporting Cruelty
Every ticket purchased prolongs the suffering of these animals. Visitors may not realize that their money directly supports an industry built on the exploitation of wild animals. Without the income from shows, in which dolphins and orcas are forced to perform humiliating tricks, the park would not be able to continue its activities, and the animals might have a chance at a better life.
Government Inaction, Public Action Needed
Despite numerous petitions and public protests, authorities continue to turn a blind eye to the suffering of animals at Loro Parque. Only through public pressure and activism can we bring about change. It's time to end the exploitation of animals for entertainment and close this animal prison once and for all.
Conclusion: Loro Parque, which may seem like a place of conservation, is in fact a prison where animals suffer and die. A public initiative is urgently needed to put an end to this cruel treatment of animals.
Sign the petition and help stop the suffering of animals at Loro Parque:
Close Loro Parque in Tenerife and End the Exploitation of Animals
