Toñi is the oldest known orca of her kind -- the Iberian orca. Toñi is referred to fondly as "La Abuela" or "the grandmother" for her venerable status among her population.
Toñi has given birth three times, but tragically has no surviving offspring. That is, in part, because Iberian orcas face an immense amount of
stress and threats in their lives. Their habitat around the Iberian Peninsula is a major shipping route, and the high traffic leads to high levels of pollution, brutal injuries from vessels, and a depletion of orcas' food sources.
Their population has been whittled down to between just 30 and 40 orcas. These orcas are highly, highly endangered and need every ounce of protection that humankind can offer –
which makes it all the more devastating that Toñi was recently spotted with ten brutal gunshot wounds to her dorsal fin!Sign the petition and demand the government of Spain, who is in charge of investigating Toñi's attack, do everything it can to find out who did this!Toñi is a highly revered and studied orca, so her
horrific injuries were spotted right away by conservationists and wildlife protection organizations.
The groups
reported multiple wounds across Toñi's dorsal fin and back that were "consistent with her having been shot with a shotgun." Apparently,
some of the bullets could still be lodged in her body, which could quickly become infected and threaten Toñi's life!Imagine how poor Toñi must have felt, swimming along when suddenly cold, hard metal pierced her skin. She could still be in an immense amount of pain, fear, and confusion.
This just isn't fair.While wildlife groups are monitoring Toñi closely, the government of Spain must do its part to find the person or persons responsible and stop them from doing this to another animal!
Iberian orcas are known for their willingness to interact with ships and vessels – from jostling them to downright ramming them. It is important to remember that vessels are visitors in these animals' habitats; it is the job of humans to avoid, deescalate, and problem-solve wildlife interactions. It seems that someone instead decided to attack Toñi, which is never, ever,
ever okay.
Violently attacking an animal, especially such an endangered one, is a serious crime.Spain's Environment Ministry has ordered the investigation, and we're writing to plead with State Secretary Hugo Alfonso Morán Fernández to do everything in his power to find and punish whoever shot Toñi with a shotgun.
Sign the petition to join our call!