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Your signature is needed to gather support and put an end to the shows and exhibitions of wild marine animals in captivity in Argentina. This will allow them to be withdrawn from the exploitation chain, rehabilitated, and transferred to marine sanctuaries. This petition, launched in 2015, initially sought the rehabilitation, readaptation, and reintegration into a natural environment of the orca Kshamenk, who has been held captive at the Mundo Marino S.A. facilities since 1992.

 Over time, the petition expanded to include all animals involved in aquariums in Argentina.

Following the permanent closure of Aquarium Mar del Plata (March 31, 2025), which brought about the sad outcome of the dolphins being relocated to another exploitation center in Egypt and the uncertainty regarding the fate of the other species involved, and the death of the orca Kshamenk (December 14, 2025) after 33 years of confinement in the Mundo Marino aquarium, it is now even more urgent to take action to put an end to the business.

We thank Dr. Mauricio Trigo, a lawyer specialized in animal rights, for his invaluable contribution in drafting the Bill "Prohibition of Shows with Marine Animals in Captivity." 

Although its presentations in the Argentine National Senate in July 2022 (File S-1577/22) and in the Argentine Chamber of Deputies in October 2023 (File 4131-D-2023) have lost parliamentary status, there are new initiatives underway to classify confinement, exhibition, sale of genetic material, forced reproduction, abandonment of animals, and any form of profit and exploitation of marine fauna as a criminal offense in Argentina. 

Collective Protection for the Health of the Orca Kshamenk

A Collective Protection has been filed in the Federal Court of First Instance of Dolores due to the deterioration of the orca’s health, under the sponsorship of independent animal rights lawyers Dr. Mauricio Trigo and Dr. Regina Adre.

Former Mar del Plata Aquarium: This request was also addressed to the authorities responsible for the matter "Permanent Closure of the Mar del Plata Aquarium" (March 2025), urgently requesting information regarding the captive animals in the aquarium. Specifically, it requested: - The number of animal species and the health status of each individual housed. - The proposed destination for each individual. - Ongoing processes and/or procedures and/or treatments for evaluation, rehabilitation, re-education, etc. Additionally, the responsible body was asked to positively consider the transfer of the animals to sanctuaries or controlled natural spaces, in order to remove them from exploitation and ensure the fulfillment of their fundamental rights inherent to each species, preventing them from being sent to other zoos and aquariums. #ArgentinaWithoutAquariums supports the Ordinance Project presented by Councilor Diego García, to prohibit the installation of new aquariums and zoos in General Pueyrredón.

Kshamenk’s story:

Kshamenk, the mail orca, is among those who suffer the consequences of their exploitation in entertainment shows. He was subtracted from his natural habitat, the sea, and has been kept in captivity, trained, utilized, exploited and exhibited for shows since 1992. He also suffered the extraction of his genetic material through invasive and cruel practices, which was then commercialized and exported without there being any regulations on it.

Kshamenk’s reality is the same that other marine animal species (dolphins, sea ​​lions, penguins, sea turtles) live in aquariums that put on shows instead of looking to rehabilitate and take them back to their natural habitats. They cause these sentient beings a lot of harm and suffering.

It is estimated that there were 223 marine animals in captivity in the two biggest oceanariums in the country in the year 2019.

Zoos are closing and land animals are being transferred in the wake of a social demand that activated the political will in Argentina. The time has come to do the same for aquariums and think about marine animals.

This campaign receives international support from the biggest and most prestigious foundations for protection and fight for the freedom of cetaceans:

■ Dolphin Project de Ric O'Barry, USA
■ Orca Network de Howard Garrett, USA
■ OPS The Oceanic Preservation Society, USA
■ Empty The Tanks Campaña internacional
■ SOSDelfines de Faada, España
■ Promar SOS Fauna Marina, España
■ La Dolphin Connection, Francia
■ Voice 4 Animals, Canadá
■ C´est Assez !, Francia
■ Gac - la page - Groupe anti captivité, Francia
■ Empty The Tanks Portugal, Portugal
■ Keiko The Untold Story, Portland USA
■ One Whale Org, Noruega