Kasatka
Kasatka performing "The Shamu Adventure" on July 5, 2004. The stage at Shamu Stadium has since been redesigned to accommodate the new "Orca Encounter" show.
SpeciesOrca
SexFemale
Born1976 (1976)
Died15 August 2017(2017-08-15) (aged 40–41)
Years active1978–2017
Known forPerformer of the Shamu show.
Mate(s)Kotar
Keet
OffspringTakara (daughter)
Nakai (son)
Kalia (daughter)
Makani (son)

Kasatka (1976 – 15 August 2017) was a wild caught female orca who lived at SeaWorld San Diego.

Life

Kasatka was captured off the southeastern coast of Iceland on October 26, 1978, with another young female whale named Kahana. Both were estimated to be around 2 years old. The two whales were housed in a sea pen in Grindavík before being shipped to SeaWorld later that year.[1]

Kasatka showed occasional aggression to humans. In 1993, she tried to bite trainer Ken Peters during a show, and again in 1999.[2] On November 30, 2006, Kasatka grabbed Peters again and dragged him underwater twice during their show.[3] Peters survived with minor injuries.[4]

After suffering incurable pneumonia from 2008 to 2017, Kasatka was euthanized at age 40 on August 15, 2017.[5]

Offspring

Kasatka was the matriarch of the San Diego Orca SeaWorld family.[5] She was the first captive cetacean to successively receive artificial insemination, according to John Hargrove, a trainer there.[6][7]

She bore two daughters and two sons, resulting in six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren by the time of her death:

See also

References

  1. ^ Sigurjónsson, Jóhann; Leatherwood, Stephen (May 1987). "The Icelandic live-capture fishery for killer whales, 1976-1988" (PDF). Workshop on North Atlantic Killer Whales: 307–316. Retrieved 31 March 2022.
  2. ^ Repard, Pauline (2006-11-30). "Killer whale bites trainer, takes him to tank bottom". SignOnSanDiego.com. Archived from the original on 2009-05-01.
  3. ^ Kirby, David (July 24, 2012). "Near Death At SeaWorld: Worldwide Exclusive Video". Huffington Post.
  4. ^ "Killer whale attacks Sea World trainer". CNN.com. November 30, 2006.
  5. ^ a b "Kasatka". seaworld.com. SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment. 2017.
  6. ^ Hargrove, John (22 March 2016). "I trained killer whales at SeaWorld for 12 years. Here's why I quit". Vox.com. Retrieved 25 February 2019.
  7. ^ Robeck, T.R.; Steinman, K.J.; Gearhart, S.; Reidarson, T.R.; McBain, J.F.; Monfort, S.L. (1 August 2004). "Reproductive Physiology and Development of Artificial Insemination Technology in Killer Whales (Orcinus orca)". Biology of Reproduction. 71 (2): 650–660. doi:10.1095/biolreprod.104.027961. PMID 15115725.
  8. ^ Rodriguez, Monica (March 21, 1991). "Sea World Proudly Spouts Off News That Killer Whale Kasatka Is Pregnant". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved August 16, 2017.
  9. ^ a b Newkirk, Ingrid (February 23, 2017). "OpEd: SeaWorld was right to stop breeding orcas, but it should go further". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved August 16, 2017.
  10. ^ Michelle. "Trua". seaworldcares.com. SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment. Retrieved August 16, 2017.
  11. ^ "Sakari". seaworldcares.com. SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment.
  12. ^ "Kamea". seaworldcares.com. SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment.
  13. ^ "Kyara obit". seaworldcares.com. SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment.
  14. ^ Autumn. "Nakai". seaworldcares.com. SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment. Retrieved August 16, 2017.
  15. ^ a b Taylor, Jennicca (December 2, 2014). "Kalia's Calf is Born!". insideseaworld.com. SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment. Retrieved August 16, 2017.
  16. ^ Mike. "Kalia". seaworldcares.com. SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment. Retrieved August 16, 2017.
  17. ^ "Amaya". seaworldcares.com. SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment. Retrieved August 16, 2017.
  18. ^ Katey. "Makani". seaworldcares.com. SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment. Retrieved August 16, 2017.

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