Horny orca Keijo, 11, is being manually stimulated after he reached adolescence with trainers hoping the move will avoid him feeling urges toward his own mother
A horny orca is being manually stimulated by marine zoo staff to prevent him from attempting to breed with his mum.
The orcas tragically remain in limbo after Marineland Antibes closed in January with managers, French government officials as well as animal rights activist not agreeing on how the animals should be re-homed. Their uncertain situation comes after French officials voted in favour of a bill that bans whales in marine zoos.
But the situation has led Orcas Wikie, 24, and her son Keijo, 11, to being kept in their pools and needing care from trainers and staff at the facility in the south of France. Shockingly, overhead footage obtained by TideBreakers showed two trainers standing at the edge of a pool alongside Keijo with one holding a flipper as the other massaging his genitals.
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Wilkie could also be seen in a nearby pool looking toward where her son was. Keeping orcas in separate pools is considered to be harmful to their wellbeing as they are sociable animals, according to the BBC.
Marineland managers told BBC News the move on August 12, from when the footage was taken, was necessary as Keijo is experiencing strong sexual urges due to reaching adolescence. A spokesperson added: “In order to avoid inbreeding with his mother, but also to prevent them from fighting and injuring each other, Marineland decided to sexually stimulate Keijo [to relieve him of his] tensions.”
Managers continued: “Although spectacular, this is natural and totally painless for the animals.” France’s ecology ministry said Marineland had informed them Keijo is being stimulated once a month and added a veterinary expert has been consulted about what is happening.
TideBreakers member Valerie Greene who worked a SeaWorld Orlando for the past 10 years said the stimulation of Keijo for sexual relief is unusual. Greene added: “As a former killer whale trainer, I’ve never seen this behaviour performed for anything other than attempting semen collection for use in artificial insemination.”
Greene continued: “Keijo is inbred, so it’s even more concerning that his semen might be used for breeding of captive orcas.” Keijo’s dad and his mum are half-siblings.
Marineland managers added the sale of semen is prohibited and that any export of it would need approval from the French government. Laws banning the insemination of female orcas came into place in counties such as France and the US.
The Mirror has contacted Marineland for comment.