Kshamenk export appears imminent

Photo courtesy of Wild Earth Foundation

Six Flags USA is relentless in its pursuit of whales and dolphins to fill its tanks and is stepping up efforts to import killer whale Kshamenk from Argentina. Your letters are needed now to keep Argentina from exporting Kshamenk to Six Flags.

In August 2002, WSPA members responded to an urgent call to action and joined efforts to convince the Argentinean authorities to deny all applications for Kshamenk's export. Our pleas were heard and Argentina's CITES authority, Victoria Lichtschein, formally announced that Six Flags' application to import Kshamenk was denied. Now, two years later, Kshamenk's future is again in the balance as Six Flags is renewing efforts to get its hands on this orca.

Kshamenk, a 16 year-old orca “rescued” under questionable circumstances after being stranded off the Argentinean coast in 1992, has been at the center of an international debate concerning the keeping of killer whales in captivity. For killer whales, a highly social marine mammal that spends its life traveling and interacting with its pod, being kept in isolation is perhaps the cruelest aspect of captivity. Kshamenk has lived in virtual isolation since 2000, when the female orca that shared his tank died.

Please send your letters today on behalf of Kshamenk. Urge Argentinean authorities to enforce their own laws and protect Kshamenk from further exploitation by the captivity industry.

Points to make:

• Resolution 62/86 of the Argentinean Wildlife Law #22.421 clearly states that the export of Kshamenk is illegal. If Argentina decides to ignore this law and allow Kshamenk's export, legal steps will be taken by the humane community.

• Six Flags USA is in financial distress and at risk for bankruptcy. If Six Flags goes bankrupt, its assets would be sold to pay off their debts. At an estimated value of $5 million, Kshamenk would be among the first “assets” to be sold.

• The questionable circumstances of Kshamenk's capture are still under investigation. If Kshamenk was in fact captured rather than rescued as Mundo Marino Amusement Park claims, then he is being held in captivity illegally and should be evaluated for rehabilitation and possible release.

Send your letters to:

Dr. Atilio Savino
Secretary of Environment Argentina
Email: asavino@medioamiente.gov.ar

Lic. Victoria Lichtschein
Head of CITES Argentina
San Martin 459-1004
Buenos Aires, Argentina
Email: vlichtsc@medioambiente.gov.ar
Fax: 54 11 4348 8554

Lic. Daniel Ramadori
National Director of Wildlife
Email: dramador@medioambiente.gov.ar

Media Coverage:
San Francisco Chronicle, August 4, 2004
VALLEJO - Six Flags' orca pursuit not black and white
U.S.-backed whale importation would violate Argentine export law