The baby orca at Loro Parque in Tenerife was born two months ago. The baby orca, named „Teno“, is thriving. This was announced by the zoo in Puerto de la Cruz.
So far, the orca calf has tended to stay close to its mother, Morgan, but is already showing increasing curiosity and is beginning to become more independent. Daniel Martín, one of the orca trainers, says: „At this stage, it is essential that Morgan is able to nurse her calf properly, as the calf receives vital antibodies through her milk.“
To support the mother, the team at the park has adjusted her diet. Morgan is now being fed 30 per cent more fish than before. The young orca’s wellbeing is particularly close to the hearts of all the staff, they say.
Orca calf on Tenerife is developing well
Teno is already being gradually integrated into his mother’s training sessions. This is helping the little „killer whale“ to get to know the trainers as his primary caregivers, they say. However, it is still too early to introduce him to the whole group.
However, the zoo has announced that integration into the group will take place gradually over the coming months. From that point onwards, Teno will also be introduced to a diet of fish.
The team at Loro Park continues to closely monitor the young orca’s development. The coming weeks are considered crucial for his further acclimatisation.
Criticism of Loro Parque’s orca programme on Tenerife
Loro Park in Tenerife is facing criticism for its orca programme. Animal welfare organisations view the fact that young orcas are still being bred there as a refusal to move with the times and to whales being kept in captivity for commercial reasons.
Loro Parque, on the other hand, cites research and species conservation as its justification. To this end, the „Loro Parque Foundation“ was established, a charity dedicated to the conservation of many animal species. Orcas, however, are not threatened with extinction.
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