I can’t believe Teno is already one year old it feels like he was born yesterday. I’m glad he’s doing well with his pod and making friends with Tekoa.
I know! It’s been amazing to get to see the little guy grow over the last year. Just the milestone of getting to a year is so big for any cetacean - wild or in human care.
Of course, not everyone is thrilled….
Tabloids like this really just love to platform the most inflammatory views possible. And not sure why celebrities with no experience in animal welfare are getting a platform here but uh… idk about “world’s saddest birthday”.
1,455 likes, 15 comments - loroparque on March 31, 2026: "🇪🇸 ¡Celebramos el 1º cumpleaños de Teno! 🎂 Como parte de su programa de enriqueci
The little guy looks very healthy and is engaging with his caretakers. And he got a gelatin cake!
Morgan has also been a fantastic mother and just goes to show that just because she struggled with feeding Ula, didn’t make her unable to nurse calves forever.
I do think it’s deeply sad when people’s first response to a baby orca being born or making it to his first year, surrounded by his loving caretakers and mother, is “this is sad and tragic”.
Meanwhile, Teno has grown up and shown interest and curiosity and willingness to play and interact. He definitely already seems to be bonding with his trainers.
Yet people will say that’s sad because it’s “not natural”. But that is the life he will have. He’s not a wild whale and he never will be. The “naturism fallacy” underpins a lot of this sense of guilt or shame that’s inflicted by these animal rights groups.
“Natural” doesn’t mean better. It’s just a different way of life. Teno is growing up and adapting to a life where he will never have to worry about hunting for food just to survive.
But it’s also important he bonds with his caretakers because that makes veterinary care easier and safer. And it also opens up his life to other enrichment and problem solving opportunities that his wild counterparts would not need - because they’re too busy surviving.
I guess for humans it’s the difference between being at home and being bored at times but having your own personal chef, educator and entertainer to keep you fed, active and learning all day long - alongside your family and friends.
vs living out in the middle of the woods and having to hunt for your next meal.
Anyway I kind of went off on a tangent here but I’m hoping more people will celebrate Teno as the little joy that he is. I don’t think anyone should feel guilty or shameful about enjoying seeing animals we love up close. Especially in accredited facilities like Loro Parque.
He’s just so cute!
Check out https://www.facebook.com/share/1HAsvBwS25/?mibextid=wwXIfr for lots of Teno cuteness
Anitasworldoforcas, Puerto de la Cruz. 155,154 likes · 119,178 talking about this. I'm Anita. I want to show you the love between trainer an
