Heartbreaking Timelapse Shows 'World's Loneliest Orca' Staring At Gate For '24 Hours Straight' In Aquarium

A timelapse video has captured a deeply saddening scene at Argentina's largest aquarium. 

It shows a captive killer whale, known as Kshamenk, remaining motionless in a small pool. 

Often referred to as the 'world's loneliest orca', Kshamenk was seen in the footage. 

He was staring at a water gate for '24 hours straight' at the Mundo Marino oceanarium.

You can find the distressing video below:

Kshamenk, now 35 years old, was first brought to the aquarium in 1992 and has reportedly been there ever since.

Mundo Marino states that they discovered Kshamenk beached on the bay at three years old alongside three other whales.

They further claim that Kshamenk was quickly moved to a concrete tank at the aquarium, where he has spent the last 32 years in very confined quarters.

Until 2000, he shared his space with a female orca named Belen, who tragically died that year.

The killer whale has been stuck in the tiny pool since 1992. (SWNS)

According to the Whale Sanctuary Project:

"Belen became pregnant with his first calf but delivered a stillborn in 1998. 

"She became pregnant again the following year but died while pregnant in 2000."

This means that Kshamenk has been living alone for the past 24 years.

Currently, the orca is housed in a shallow, cramped pool, and there are calls from charities to relocate him to an open sanctuary where he could be with other whales.

A 24-hour timelapse video that was recently shared online shows the orca barely moving within the restricted space.

A spokesperson from UrgentSeas commented: 

The 'world's loneliest orca' Kshamenk is kept at Mundo Marino in Argentina. (SWNS)

"We continue to work with Argentinian activists and members of Congress to try to highlight and address his cruel world. 

"He needs to be removed from his tiny concrete tank and to join other members of his species before it's too late."

On the other hand, the Dolphin Project cites a 2006 Wild Earth Foundation study that states:

'Kshamenk's population of origin is unknown, as well as his home range, and there is no data of any kind regarding killer whales found along the coast of North Buenos Aires. 

'Thus, a reintroduction was not feasible'.

They also warned that 'if Kshamenk is released in the wild, he may revert to a previous pattern of behaviour that may put him in danger, such as begging for food or seeking human contact'.

The Whale Sanctuary Project further noted: "Animal protection organisations are skeptical of the story. 

"Instead, they suggest, Kshamenk may have been forced ashore by people with an interest in circumventing Argentine laws against the commercial capture of wild marine mammals."