Dec. 19 (UPI) -- Kshamenk, the last killer whale held in captivity in Latin America, died of cardiorespiratory arrest in Argentina at age 35, Mundo Marino said.
The mammal spent 33 years in a marine park, exceeding the typical life expectancy of male killer whales in captivity and becoming an emblematic case in the debate over the confinement of marine species.
Mundo Marino said Kshamenk died Sunday after a sudden deterioration in its health and that veterinarians and caretakers were monitoring the animal at the time of its death. The park said the cause was consistent with age-related complications.
"Kshamenk was under permanent veterinary supervision, and its death occurred despite ongoing care," the park said in a statement.
Kshamenk arrived at the Mundo Marino park in November 1992 after becoming stranded along Argentina's Atlantic coast. Three fishermen found a group of killer whales trapped in a mudbank in Buenos Aires province after pursuing a school of fish during high tide.
