Kshamenk, the rescued orca

Five things you need to know about Kshamenk

1. About His Health Status

As of November 11, 2024, Kshamenk is in excellent health. A team of three veterinarians and eight caregivers, with the support of seven external specialists, conducts monthly check-ups as part of a rigorous preventive medicine plan. These include blood tests analyzing over 32 parameters, along with gastric and respiratory samples monitoring 40 different parameters, all of which show normal ranges for his age. In addition, Kshamenk’s health and general condition are monitored, controlled, and approved by the relevant provincial and national government agencies.

2. Why Does Kshamenk Live at Mundo Marino?

Kshamenk was rescued in November 1992 after becoming stranded with a group of orcas on the marshy ground in Samborombón Bay. His rehabilitation process was complex and required a long course of treatment to address both his physical and mental health needs, given the trauma of the stranding and separation from his family. Thanks to the combined efforts of numerous parties, he was saved. However, after consulting experts from around the world, it was determined that returning him to the wild was not a viable option, as he would have no chance of survival. Thus, with the support of government authorities, Mundo Marino assumed responsibility for his care.

3. Could He Ever Return to the Sea?

Reintroducing Kshamenk to the wild would pose serious risks to his life. Orcas are highly social animals that live in complex groups, depending on their pods for hunting, feeding, and protection. It would be unrealistic to reintegrate Kshamenk (an elderly orca beyond the average life expectancy) into such a dynamic environment. His survival would hinge on both being accepted by a new orca group and successfully hunting on his own, both of which are improbable. Moreover, the status and location of his original family group are unknown, complicating any chance of a successful reintegration into the wild.

4. Is There a Sanctuary That Could Accommodate Him?

There are no suitable sanctuaries, reserves, or semi-natural facilities with the capacity to care for an orca like Kshamenk. Even if such facilities existed, it would not be the primary factor in evaluating relocation. The key consideration is the animal’s welfare and specific characteristics. In this regard, specialists who regularly assess Kshamenk’s physical and mental health have concluded that transferring him would pose significant risks to his well-being and life.

5. Why Does He Participate in Educational Presentations?

Mundo Marino’s mission is to implement conservation projects and provide assistance to animals affected by human activities through medical care, rehabilitation, and reintroduction when feasible. For animals like Kshamenk, where reintroduction is not viable, Mundo Marino assumes full responsibility for their care, in line with guidelines from relevant state authorities. Mundo Marino also strives to educate the public on animal history, species conservation, and the impact of human activities on biodiversity. This mission is realized through educational presentations that showcase natural behaviors these animals would display in their native habitats. Kshamenk's care includes regular veterinary check-ups, fostering of natural behaviors, and bonding and socialization activities to ensure his physical, emotional, and cognitive well-being.

Kshamenk's Documented and Official History

On November 17, 1992, three fishermen from San Clemente set out as usual on their boat, Nueva Realidad. A few hours into the trip, they spotted four large black shapes in the distance near the coast between the mouths of Arroyo Ancho and Ría de Ajó. Due to shallow waters, they could not approach further by boat, so they used a rowboat. Despite their efforts, they couldn’t reach the animals because the water was less than 30 centimeters deep. Disembarking, they eventually identified the figures as four stranded orcas trapped in the mud. 

Recognizing the scale of the orcas and the challenges posed by the low tide, the fishermen knew it would be impossible to help without specialized support. They returned to the harbor to alert Mundo Marino, but had to wait until 3 a.m. the next day for the tide to rise enough to prevent their boat from running aground.

Upon their return to port at 5 a.m. on November 18, they informed Mundo Marino of the situation. A previous alert had come from another fisherman about an adult orca stranded on the banks of Arroyo Salinas, which the Mundo Marino team had attempted to rescue, unsuccessfully (1). Therefore, news of this new stranding, given that orcas travel in groups, was unsurprising (2).

When the rescue team reached the area, they found only one stranded young orca, estimated to be about three years old. Later named Kshamenk by his caregivers, it is believed he may have entered Samborombón Bay with his family group during a high tide while chasing fish. When the tide receded, they became trapped. The larger, stronger adult orcas likely managed to return to the sea on the next high tide, while the young Kshamenk, weakened, remained stranded.

At this point, Kshamenk was in critical condition, showing signs of severe weakness, dehydration, reduced responsiveness, low respiratory rate, and muscle spasms from prolonged stranding. Estimated to have been stranded for approximately two days on a sand and mud bank with only about 10 centimeters of water, the only option was to stabilize him by transferring him to the Rescue and Rehabilitation Center of the Mundo Marino Foundation for appropriate care. The rescue operation successfully moved Kshamenk to a medical pool.

At this point, Kshamenk was in critical condition, showing signs of severe weakness, dehydration, reduced responsiveness, low respiratory rate, and muscle spasms from prolonged stranding. Estimated to have been stranded for approximately two days on a sand and mud bank with only about 10 centimeters of water, the only option was to stabilize him by transferring him to the Rescue and Rehabilitation Center of the Mundo Marino Foundation for appropriate care. The rescue operation successfully moved Kshamenk to a medical pool.

He was severely decompensated and dehydrated, with severely altered blood parameters, requiring 24-hour monitoring. The rehabilitation process was long and complex, involving not only his fragile physical health but also his emotional state, significantly impacted by the traumatic stranding and the loss of his family.

Orcas live in large matriarchal groups and spend their first years with their mothers, learning to hunt and survive. To support Kshamenk’s recovery, the rehabilitation team ensured constant presence and care, gradually gaining his trust so he would willingly allow them to take samples to monitor his health. This necessity for human care allowed Kshamenk to become accustomed to his caregivers, seeing them as his new family.

A few months later, as his condition improved, it was time to evaluate the possibility of reintroduction. Consultations were held with national and international marine mammal experts, who were informed of his case and asked for their professional assessments regarding a potential release.

Based on the scientific consensus at the time, all consulted institutions and experts concluded that reintroduction would likely fail and endanger Kshamenk's life. Their comments included:

“It would be very difficult to successfully reintroduce this whale back into the wild, if it could even be done at all. Any reintroduction program would require a long-term and costly effort, followed by an extended period of monitoring the whale afterward through radio transmitters if we wish to track its status in the wild. Under no circumstances can it be recommended to simply place the animal back into the waters near where it is stranded. Even with the best efforts, the outcome could very likely be the animal’s death."

​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ University of Hawaii at Manoa. April 28, 1993.

“As you know Killer Whales live in pods who each have their own 'language' learnt from calfhood. To release animals outside this closely knit grouping would be similar to incarcerating you or me in a culture strange to us with a different language and one where the residents are not keen or willing to assist us in any way. However even if the pod from which this animal had come could be identified (a very dubious possibility) then there is no proof that your animal would be able to support himself on live fish. Evidence from the wild of released captive animals shows in most cases (and all those closely monitored) that failure results in the death of the animal unless it be caught again and returned to captivity. In the absence therefore of any concrete evidence to the contrary, the present advice is not to consider release into the wild if the welfare of the animal concerned is to be considered.”

​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ European Association for Aquatic Mammals. April 19, 1993.

“Releasing an Orca does not just mean to throw it back into the ocean. If the project should have any chance of success it must be very well prepared. This needs the involvement of many experts in this field and costs a lot of time and money. At minimum you would need a year. Even if everything is prepared perfectly the chance that the animal would survive is very very small. For this reason social living animals like e.g. primates are usually only released as socially functional groups. Single animals would not have a chance to survive. The same would be true for cetaceans. So to put such an amount of work and money into this project would be a waste. From the animals point of view it would mean to send it back to death” 

University of Bielefeld. March 24, 1993. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​

After numerous recommendations and consultation with local authorities, it was decided that Kshamenk's welfare would be best served by remaining under the care of the Mundo Marino team. When an animal cannot return to the sea after rehabilitation, the goal is to provide long-term care, use it as a learning opportunity, and help educate the public about marine biodiversity conservation.

In other cases, when the animal is an adult, has acquired all the skills necessary to survive independently, and can be quickly rehabilitated, reintroduction is possible. This was the case with "Tuki," a black orca rescued and reintegrated by the Mundo Marino Foundation in 2015.

(1) Medical and veterinary examinations conducted during the rescue process revealed signs of renal damage and muscular and hepatic lesions typical of stranding. Additionally, the respiratory rate was observed to be above normal. Unfortunately, despite these efforts, the orca ultimately died of cardiorespiratory arrest.

(2) A similar situation occurred in August 2018, when a stranded orca was reintroduced to the New Atlantis site, but two others were found dead a few kilometers away. The following year, a similar incident took place when seven orcas stranded in Mar Chiquita; six of them were successfully released.

HOW WE CARE FOR KSHAMENK

Kshamenk is a healthy, curious, active, and affectionate orca who enjoys playing and engaging in activities with his caregivers. The trust established during his rehabilitation and the years of continuous care is evident in his personality and, more importantly, in the positive way he interacts with his entire care team. Currently, this team consists of eight caregivers and three veterinarians, with support from seven external specialists who work on various aspects of his health.

Caregivers engage Kshamenk in environmental enrichment activities that include suggestions, stimuli, and games designed to support his well-being and encourage species-specific behaviors. These activities span cognitive, nutritional, social, and sensory areas. Each animal shows a preference for certain activities based on personality; for instance, Kshamenk, being highly curious and creative, enjoys tasks that present complex challenges.

The activities presented during educational presentations are part of the games and enrichment exercises that Kshamenk participates in daily. 

In addition to these activities, veterinarians make daily visits to observe his behavior and interactions with caregivers. Routine check-ups (e.g., blood tests and respiratory samples) are conducted monthly, while special examinations (e.g., ophthalmologic and dental) are performed annually. The data collected during these checks provide precise monitoring of Kshamenk's health over time, establishing a valuable record of his vital parameters that researchers, veterinarians, and biologists worldwide can use as a reference in conserving orcas in the Southern Hemisphere.

All of these tasks are, of course, supervised, regulated, and approved by the appropriate provincial and national government agencies.

National and international experts have also verified Kshamenk’s well-being. In 2006, Drs. Joseph Geraci, David Huff, and Lance Barrett-Lennard—world authorities on orca medicine—conducted an inspection at the invitation of Fundación Vida Silvestre Argentina. Specialists from the Argentine Natural Science Museum Bernardino Rivadavia, Fundación Cethus, and the Wild Earth Foundation (WEF) also participated. Here is an excerpt from the WEF’s report on Kshamenk's status, published in 2013.

The team’s findings (included in File No. 70-3350-2001 of the National Secretary of Environment and Sustainable Development) concluded as follows:

"Kshamenk's general health is excellent. He is a robust orca, measuring 6.021 meters in length, with a girth of 3.095 meters and an estimated weight of 3,600 kg. His movements are energetic, and he demonstrates sustained activity without any observable change in his breathing or swimming behavior. He is alert and responsive to all cues and signals, with clear nares and normal expirations. His eyes are normal, with clear corneas, and his oral mucosa is pink and healthy. His teeth show minimal wear and are in excellent condition, though one fractured tooth is visible above the gum line on the right mandible, and behind it are two teeth emerging from the same alveolus. The gums appear uniformly healthy, and the skin is also in excellent condition. The anal and genital orifices are normal and without secretions. Upon palpation, the muscle tone is firm and elastic. Kshamenk was fully cooperative during the physical examination, allowing Dr. Huff ample time to complete each procedure without any signs of hostility. We observed a variety of "medical behaviors" Kshamenk has been trained to perform, including oral examinations, body surface checks (both in water and on land), exposure of genital and anal areas for examination, and presentation of the caudal fin for blood sampling. For each behavior, Kshamenk consistently responded to his trainer's cues, which were given in line with our requests."

"In our opinion and experience, Kshamenk is one of the healthiest orcas in captivity."

CONTRIBUTIONS TO SPECIES CONSERVATION

When animals are rescued, rehabilitated, and unable to return to their habitats for health or biological reasons—as is the case with Kshamenk—they remain under the care of specialized organizations that ensure their welfare. These animals contribute significantly to environmental education and to the generation of knowledge that enhances conservation efforts for wild populations of the same species.

Research into animals' genetic material and reproductive methods is one of science's most important tools in preventing species extinction. Examples such as the giant panda and the jaguar illustrate the achievements possible through reproductive biology research.

Many of these studies can only be conducted in cooperative, controlled environments. Thanks to Kshamenk, researchers assessed the semen and reproductive quality of a Southern Hemisphere orca for the first time in history. This milestone provided crucial data not only for conserving Southern Hemisphere orca ecotypes but also for their Northern Hemisphere counterparts, which face extreme vulnerability today.

The semen is cryopreserved in a genetic bank, along with other marine species samples, in Argentina’s first genetic resource reserve for marine fauna. This reserve, which stores biological material at very low temperatures, serves as a safeguard for species facing extinction in the region. While this risk was once considered remote, the severe environmental challenges affecting marine wildlife today make it urgent.

These initiatives are essential to the conservation of endangered wildlife. Around the world, conservation organizations work tirelessly to contribute knowledge that supports efforts to protect biodiversity. As the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services states, "There is no doubt that we are heading toward the sixth mass extinction, the first caused by human actions."

WHY KSHAMENK CANNOT BE REINTRODUCED

The feasibility of cetacean reintroduction depends on the animal’s specific conditions at the time of rehabilitation. Stranded animals without serious health issues may receive prompt care at the stranding site and be released or undergo brief stays in rehabilitation centers, as in the case of Tuki.

However, when prolonged treatment is required due to illness, severe wounds, or prolonged exposure to air and sun, animals typically become accustomed to human care. In such cases, the chances of survival post-reintroduction are very low, with no recorded successful cases worldwide. Moreover, reintroducing long-term care animals poses risks of disease transmission to wild populations.

In Kshamenk's case, he has been under human care for many years. Orcas live in complex social groups, hunting, feeding, and defending themselves together. Adapting Kshamenk to this dynamic would be impossible; his survival would depend on both his ability to join a group and the group’s acceptance of him—both improbable outcomes.

Furthermore, he lacks hunting skills. When rescued, Kshamenk was about three years old, an age when young orcas still depend heavily on their social group to learn independent survival skills.

The only attempt to reintroduce an adult orca that had spent most of its life in human care was unsuccessful. Keiko, a famous captive orca, died in 2003 following a seven-year reintroduction effort. Despite $20 million and the best intentions, she failed to adapt to the wild. A 2009 scientific review published in Marine Mammal Science concluded that, while Keiko spent time near wild Icelandic orcas, she did not integrate into their social structures. Data showed she did not dive as deeply or for as long as wild orcas and often returned to the observers' boat for safety after brief interactions.

By contrast, the Mundo Marino team successfully reintroduced a subadult black orca in August 2015 within 23 days. This success was due to the orca’s age, hunting abilities, brief rehabilitation period, and good final lab results.

Though we may find reintroduction appealing, it is essential to prioritize the animal’s survival and well-being. Keiko's case taught us valuable lessons.

From a conservation perspective, it’s evident that the millions of dollars unsuccessfully invested in Keiko could have funded conservation programs to protect thousands of orcas and their habitats.