Lone female orca in Loro Parque pregnant again

Morgan at Loro Parque, Spain, 2016

Recent news reports suggest that Morgan, the only female orca at the controversial Loro Parque dolphinarium on the Spanish island of Tenerife, is pregnant once again. 

Morgan, who was born in the wild, was discovered alone and in an emaciated state off the coast of the Netherlands in 2010. She was ‘rescued’ and taken into captivity at the Dolfinarium Harderwijk theme park, where she remained for around 18 months. A legal challenge was brought against her continued captivity by NGOs in the Netherlands. However, rather than preparing her for release into the wild, she was controversially transferred to Loro Parque in Tenerife, Spain. Despite pressure from international NGOs, Morgan has remained in Spain, where she is exploited daily to entertain visitors. 

In 2018, Morgan gave birth to a female calf called Ula following a pregnancy described by Loro Parque as ‘accidental’. Ula, who was sadly born deformed, was separated from Morgan shortly after birth, and died at the park before her third birthday. 

Responding to the news of this latest pregnancy, veterinarian Dr Mark Jones, Born Free’s Head of Policy, said: “The evidence that the health and welfare of orcas and other cetaceans is severely compromised in commercial dolphinaria is clear. The shows and tricks they are forced to perform have no educational or conservation value.

“Morgan should have been rehabilitated and released into the wild following her rescue. Sadly, she has suffered for the past 15 years confined to tiny concrete tanks, and forced to perform demeaning tricks in the name of entertainment and profit. No good can come from this pregnancy which, if the calf survives at all, condemns yet another orca to a miserable life in captivity. Loro Parque should do the right thing and make arrangements for Morgan and all the marine mammals at the facility to be transferred to seaside sanctuaries where they can be prepared for release into the wild, or if this is not possible, where they can receive appropriate lifetime care.” 

Morgan at Loro Parque

The news comes amidst uncertainty around the fate of the two remaining orcas, Wikie and her son Keijo, and other animals at Marineland in Antibes, France, following the closure of the facility to the public earlier this year in light of the impending ban on captive cetaceans introduced by the French authorities. Loro Parque has been cited as a likely destination for the two orcas. 

Dr Jones continued: “The French authorities have taken the progressive and welcome step to end the captive display of cetaceans. They must now seek the best possible solutions for the remaining captive animals in the country, starting with Wikie and Keijo. Sending them to Loro Parque will only perpetuate and compound their suffering.” 

Born Free is a founding member of the Dolphinaria Free Europe coalition whose mission is to end the keeping of cetaceans in captivity.