The death of Inouk, a 25-year-old orca who died during the night from Wednesday to Thursday in a pool at the Marineland in Antibes, shocked the associations which for months have been mobilizing on the fate of the orcas in the Antibes park after rumors of a possible transfer of cetaceans to Japan.
“Yesterday the news shocked and saddened our entire team, like many people for whom Inouk was more than an orc. But after the tears, the anger and the feeling of injustice arrived, and we will no longer leave the orcs without visibility” the Tilikum’spirit association posted this Friday on Linkedin and Facebook. These volunteers dedicated to the defense of cetaceans have been following the state of health of Marineland’s orcas for years, thanks to their internal network.
“Inouk would have died of a dental infection”
This Friday morning, they were able to have information on Inouk’s last moments of life: “Inouk had undergone extensive dental work a few days before. Since the evening before, he had not eaten. Construction noises were heard the day before yesterday in the park… And according to our information collected on site, his last night was “is done in the medical area… Inouk would have died from this dental infection.” Still according to this association, Inouk’s body left Thursday evening as quickly as possible to reach a site in Vendée where the autopsy and rendering will be carried out.
“In 6 months,” continues the president of the association Christine Ringuet, “there have been two orcas dead, a baby dolphin, a Steller sea lion, a Cape sea lion… And these are only the ones we see. Marineland must return accounts, and seriously!
Instead, how does Marineland respond to Inouk’s death? By removing all traces of orcas on its site, its application removes access to the pool while these orcas must remain visible to everyone, without necessarily putting on shows. We can only imagine the sadness and anger of the staff on site at this lack of respect for the animals.”
Gathering this Saturday in front of the park
For its part, One Voice also calls for shedding light on the living conditions of the orcas at Marineland: “Wikie and Keijo, mother and son, now without Inouk in the Marineland basins. Beyond the ongoing expertise, complaints…, it is urgent for the two surviving orcas to be removed from all exploitation , to have a real life.” The association, which filed a complaint against the park just like C’est Enssez!, is calling for a gathering this Saturday for Inouk, at 2:15 p.m., in front of the Marineland hotel.
