In Europe's largest oceanarium "Moskvarium", the male killer whale Nord died at the age of 16 (in the wild, killer whales live from 50 to 90 years), the animal was not sick with anything, officially the cause of death is "acute peptic ulcer of the third section of the stomach." The message was published on the institution's website.
“Nord’s departure once again confirms the Moskvarium’s position on the need for a complete ban on catching marine mammals for educational, cultural and educational purposes, which the center’s specialists expressed by taking part in the development of draft law N40333-8 “On Amendments to the Federal Law “On Fishing and conservation of aquatic biological resources,” the press service of the aquarium says.
The Kedr publication drew attention to the fact that over the 8 years of the existence of the Moskvarium, at least 18 animals died in it, the death of Nord became the 19th. In 2022 alone, six dolphins died within the walls of the Moscow Oceanarium. In January 2023, after the death of a 17-year-old killer whale of Narnia, animal rights activists from the Freedom for Killer Whales and Beluga whales coalition created a petition to ban the keeping of marine mammals in the Moskvarium, currently more than 64 thousand people have signed it.
The Moskvarium press release also spoke of the sudden death of Narnia, but the Freedom for Killer Whales and Beluga whales coalition claims that Narnia and other killer whales had stomach problems before.
“They were swallowing the pool cover, the first time Narnia was pulled from the show because of this at the end of 2017. We also know that killer whales at Moskvarium have repeatedly undergone gastroscopy, a procedure to remove foreign objects from the stomach. It was filled with pieces of pool cover. Living in a sparse, enclosed environment, cetaceans often gnaw on everything they can find, from the pool cover to the metal gates separating the pool compartments.”
In nature, killer whales are supposed to feed on marine mammals, but instead they are trained to eat dead and often thawed fish.
As environmentalist Sofya Belyaeva explained, the Moskvarium building does not meet the biological characteristics of animals. There is no sun, no fresh air, no movement of water and wind, no natural micro-organisms, no space needed by animals. The depression of the psycho-emotional and physical state of animals leads to diseases.
Earlier in June, State Duma deputies adopted a bill that introduces a ban on catching whales and dolphins, fur seals and other marine mammals for cultural and educational purposes. However, the catch will still be allowed for scientific purposes, the permits will be issued by the government commission for the development of the fishery complex.