Spanish animal trainer Alexis Martinez trained orcas at the Orca Ocean at Loro Parque in the Canary Islands. On December 24, 2009, two months prior to the passing of Dawn Brancheau, arguably the most well-known orca assault victim at SeaWorld, he was murdered during a Christmas performance practice. Despite the park’s original claim that Martinez’s death was an accident, the autopsy report revealed that he died as a result of the attack’s lethal injuries. Even worse, the park said that another orca attack two years before was just an accident.
Keto and Alexis Martinez
At Loro Parque, 29-year-old Alexis Martinez has three years of experience working with orcas. The animal lover was characterized as “handsome, generous, and funny” by his partner, Estefanía Luis Rodriguez. Martinez had voiced worries about his work at Orca Ocean, she disclosed. He claimed that the killer whales were become violent, disruptive, and disobedient in the final weeks before he passed away. Until the autopsy report revealed shredded organs, a crushed chest, and bite marks, the park initially described his death as an unfortunate accident and said his body exhibited no signs of violence.
Born in 1995 in a SeaWorld park, Keto, a 6,600-pound male, has never seen the ocean. He has given performances at parks in the Canary Islands, Texas, San Diego, and Ohio. The incident occurred during his third year at Orca Ocean in Loro Parque. Four orcas, including Keto, were loaned to Loro Parque from SeaWorld.
The Training Session That Was Fateful …
