Orca ‘sexually stimulated’ by zoo staff to avoid inbreeding with mother

The 24-year-old orca, Wikie, and her 11-year-old son, Keijo, continue to be housed together at their current facility. This ongoing cohabitation arrangement has persisted for several months, despite extensive efforts to secure new, separate homes for the pair. Concerns have been raised by staff and animal welfare advocates regarding the potential for inbreeding, especially given Keijo’s sexual maturity. To manage this risk, personnel at the facility have reportedly been performing specific interventions, including the sexual stimulation of Wikie. These actions are intended to regulate her reproductive state and prevent conception by her son while they remain in close proximity. The situation underscores the challenges in managing captive marine mammals and the complexities involved in relocating such animals to suitable, independent environments. Efforts to finalize a new home that would allow for the necessary separation of mother and son are still ongoing, following months of negotiations and logistical wrangling.