They

did not

survive

the show ...

The deadly history of captive killer whales

Current number of known orcas that died in captivity: 152



For pictures of a certain whale simply click on the whale's name!



sorted by date of capture/birth
NAME MOTHER SEX ORIGIN CAPT./BORN AQUARIUM DIED TIME IN CAPTIVITY
1960<
Wanda ? F CA, USA 11/18/1961 Marineland California 11/20/1961 2 days
Moby Doll J pod M WA, USA 7/16/1964 Vancouver Aquarium 10/9/1964 3 months
Namu / C11 C5? M BC, CAN 6/23/1965 Seattle Marine Aquarium, WA 7/9/1966 1 year
Shamu J, K or L pod F WA, USA 10/31/1965 SeaWorld California 8/23/1971 6 years
Skana / Walter K pod F WA, USA 2/1967 Vancouver Aquarium 10/5/1980 13,5 years
Ramu K pod M WA, USA 2/1967 SeaWorld Florida 1/12/1982 15 years
Kilroy K pod M WA, USA 2/1967 SeaWorld California 9/23/1978 11,5 years
Katy K pod F WA, USA 2/1967 Seattle Marine Aquarium, WA 5/1967 3 months
Kandu K pod F WA, USA 2/1967 SeaWorld California 6/16/1971 4 years
Orky I11 pod M BC, CAN 7/1967 Marineland California 7/1969 2 years
Lupa ? F WA, USA 2/1968 New York Aquarium 9/1968 7 months
Hugo ? M WA, USA 2/1968 Miami Seaquarium, FL 3/4/1980 12 years
Natsidalia A5 pod? F BC, CAN 4/1968 Vancouver Aquarium 11/1968 7 months
Hyak 2 / Tung-Jen Natsidalia M BC, CAN 4/1968 Vancouver Aquarium 2/16/1991 23 years
Corky A5 pod? F BC, CAN 4/1968 Marineland California 12/1970 2,5 years
Orky 2 A5 pod? M BC, CAN 4/1968 SeaWorld California 9/26/1988 20 years
Kianu / Clyde A5 pod? F BC, CAN 4/1968 Nanki Shirahama Adventure World, Japan 6/1980 12 years
Bonnie A5 pod? F BC, CAN 4/1968 Marine World California 8/15/1968 4 months
Tula ? M BC, CAN 7/1968 Dolfinarium Harderwijck, Netherlands 10/1968 3 months
no name Bonnie ? captivity 8/15/1968 Marine World California 8/15/1968 stillbirth
Ahab J or L pod M WA, USA 10/1968 US Navy, Hawaii 1974 5,5 years
Haida J or L pod M WA, USA 10/1968 Sealand Victoria, BC 10/3/1982 14 years
Mamuk J or L pod M WA, USA 10/1968 Sea-Arama Texas 6/1974 5,5 years
Cuddles J or L pod M WA, USA 10/1968 Dudley Zoo, Great Britain 2/6/1974 5,5 years
no name Kianu ? captivity 1968 Marine World California 1968 stillbirth
Ramu 2 ? M WA, USA 4/1969 Marineland Australia 5/1970 1 year
no name ? F WA, USA 4/1969 Seattle Marine Aquarium, WA date unknown ?
Calypso A25? F BC, CAN 12/12/1969 Marineland Antibes, France 12/1970 1 year
Patches A25? F BC, CAN 12/12/1969 Marineland California 8/1971 1,5 years
no name A25? M BC, CAN 12/12/1969 Marineland California 5/1972 2,5 years
Nepo A25? M BC, CAN 12/12/1969 Marine World California 7/10/1980 10,5 years
Yaka A8? F BC, CAN 12/12/1969 Marine World California 10/29/1997 28 years
1970<
no name ? ? WA, USA 2/1970 Seattle Marine Aquarium, WA date unknown ?
Chimo / T4 T3? F BC, CAN 3/1/1970 Sealand Victoria, BC 11/2/1972 2,5 years
Nootka / Knootka / T5 T2? F BC, CAN 3/1/1970 SeaWorld California 3/13/1990 20 years
Scarredjaw Cow / T3 ? F BC, CAN 3/1/1970 Sealand Victoria, BC 5/15/1970 2 months
Lil Nooka J, K or L pod M WA, USA 8/8/1970 Sea-Arama Texas 3/1971 7 months
Winston / Ramu J, K or L pod M WA, USA 8/8/1970 SeaWorld California 4/28/1986 15,5 years
Jumbo J, K or L pod M WA, USA 8/8/1970 Kamogawa SeaWorld, Japan 7/1974 4 years
Chappy J, K or L pod F WA, USA 8/8/1970 Kamogawa SeaWorld, Japan 4/1974 3,5 years
Clovis J, K or L pod M WA, USA 8/8/1970 Marineland Antibes, France 2/1973 2,5 years
Ramu 4 J, K or L pod M WA, USA 8/8/1970 Marineland Australia 8/1971 1 year
Whale J, K or L pod F WA, USA 8/8/1970 Munich, Germany 10/1971 1 year
Kona L pod F WA, USA 8/1971 SeaWorld California 9/28/1977 6 years
Kandu 2 L pod M WA, USA 8/1971 Marineland Ontario 10/1979 8 years
Kandu 3 L pod F WA, USA 8/1971 SeaWorld California 6/1975 4 years
no name ? M WA, USA 11/1971 Seattle Marine Aquarium, WA date unknown ?
no name ? M WA, USA 11/1971 Seattle Marine Aquarium, WA date unknown ?
Canuck / J24 J pod M WA, USA 3/12/1972 SeaWorld Florida 12/1/1974 2,5 years
Zero ? ? Japan 1972 Kamogawa SeaWorld, Japan 9/1972 15 days
Sandy ? F WA, USA 3/1973 SeaWorld Florida 10/1977 4,5 years
Nootka 2 K pod F WA, USA 8/1973 Sealand Victoria, BC 5/1/1974 9 months
Kandy L pod F WA, USA 8/1973 Marineland Ontario 11/1973 3 months
Frankie L pod M WA, USA 8/1973 SeaWorld California 1/29/1974 5 months
Nootka 3 T? F BC, CAN 8/16/1975 Sealand Victoria, BC 5/1976 9 months
Kandu 4 / Kanduke / T9 T7? M BC, CAN 8/16/1975 SeaWorld Florida 9/20/1990 15 years
Kim / Oum ? M Iceland 10/25/1976 Marineland Antibes, France 7/24/1982 5,5 years
Kenau ? F Iceland 10//25/1976 SeaWorld Florida 8/6/1991 15 years
Gudrun ? F Iceland 10/25/1976 SeaWorld Florida 2/25/1996 19,5 years
no name Corky 2 M captivity 2/28/1977 Marineland California 3/16/1977 18 days
Miracle ? F BC, CAN 8/9/1977 Sealand Victoria, BC 1/1982 4,5 years
Magnus ? M Iceland 10/12/1977 Dolfinarium Harderwijck, Netherlands 12/18/1977 2 months
Canuck 2 ? M Iceland 10/12/1977 SeaWorld California 8/2/1981 4 years
Kona 2 ? F Iceland 10/12/1977 SeaWorld Florida 10/15/1987 10 years
Kandu 5 ? F Iceland 10/12/1977 SeaWorld California 8/21/1989 12 years
Hoi Wai / Suzie Wong ? F Iceland 10/12/1977 Ocean Park, Hongkong 4/21/1997 19,5 years
Winnie ? F Iceland 10/12/1977 SeaWorld Texas 4/11/2002 24,5 years
Kotar ? M Iceland 10/26/1978 SeaWorld Texas 4/1/1995 16,5 years
Shawn? ? F Iceland 10/26/1978 SeaWorld California 9/3/1979 1 year
Kahana ? F Iceland 10/26/1978 SeaWorld Texas 5/14/1991 12,5 years
Betty ? F Iceland 10/26/1978 Marineland Antibes, France 9/8/1987 9 years
no name ? M Iceland 10/26/1978 Saedyrasafnid, Iceland 2/1979 4 months
Spooky Corky 2 M captivity 10/31/1978 Marineland California 11/10/1978 11 days
no name ? F Iceland 11/1978 Saedyrasafnid, Iceland 2/1979 3 months
no name ? M Japan 12/1978 Taiji Whaling Museum, Japan 12/1978 5 days
Tai ? M Japan 2/26/1979 Taiji Whaling Museum, Japan 6/1982 3 years
Chi ? F Japan 2/26/1979 Taiji Whaling Museum, Japan 6/1979 4 months
no name ? F Japan 2/26/1979 Nanki Shirahama Adventure World, Japan 3/1979 1 month
no name ? F Japan 2/26/1979 Nanki Shirahama Adventure World, Japan 4/1979 2 months
Benkei ? M Japan 2/26/1979 Nanki Shirahama Adventure World, Japan 2/1989 10 years
no name ? ? captivity 3/1979 Nanki Shirahama Adventure World, Japan 3/1979 stillbirth
Surfer Girl ? F CA, USA 5/26/1979 Marine World California 6/03/1979 9 days
Dzul-ha / Shamu ? M Iceland 7/1979 Aquarama on Parade, Mexico 1983 4 years
Caren / Calen ? F Iceland 11/1979 Kamogawa SeaWorld, Japan 5/4/1987 7,5 years
King ? M Iceland 11/1979 Kamogawa SeaWorld, Japan 10/04/1983 4 years
no name ? F Iceland 11/1979 Marineland Ontario 1/1980 3 months
1980<
no name Corky 2 ? captivity 4/1/1980 Marineland California 4/1/1980 stillbirth
Benkei 2 / Ushiwaka ? M Iceland 10/1980 Nanki Shirahama Adventure World, Japan 7/1983 2,5 years
Finna ? M Iceland 11/19/1980 Vancouver Aquarium 10/6/1997 17 years
Vigga ? F Iceland 11/19/1980 Marine World California 8/14/2000 19,5 years
Bjossa ? F Iceland 11/19/1980 SeaWorld California 10/8/2001 21 years
Nemo ? M Iceland 10/1981 Windsor Safari Park, Great Britain 11/17/1986 5 years
no name ? M Iceland 10/1981 Clacton Pier, Great Britain 12/1981 2 months
Neptune ? M Iceland 10/1981 Clacton Pier, Great Britain 6/1983 1,5 years
no name ? F Iceland 10/1981 Marineland Ontario date unknown ?
Ruka / Orca ? F Iceland 10/1981 Nanki Shirahama Adventure World, Japan 3/29/2000 18,5 years
Nootka 5 ? F Iceland 10/1981 Marineland Ontario 1/8/2008 26 years
no name ? M Japan 2/1982 Taiji Whaling Museum, Japan 6/1982 4 months
Benkei 3 ? M Japan 2/1982 "private home", Japan 12/1983 1,5 years
Sacchi ? F Japan 2/1982 Enoshima Marineland, Japan 4/1984 2 years
no name Sacchi M captivity 5/1982 Enoshima Marineland, Japan 5/1982 10 days
Kiva Corky 2 F captivity 6/16/1982 Marineland California 8/3/1982 48 days
no name ? M Iceland 10/1982 Sealand Victoria, BC 6/1983 8 months
Nootka 4 ? F Iceland 10/1982 SeaWorld Florida 9/13/1994 12 years
Haida 2 ? F Iceland 10/1982 SeaWorld Texas 8/1/2001 19 years
Kim 2 ? M Iceland 10/1982 Marineland Antibes, France 11/23/2005 23 years
Nandu ? M Iceland 11/1983 Acuarama Sao Paulo, Brasil 3/2/1988 4,5 years
Samoa ? F Iceland 11/1983 SeaWorld Texas 3/14/1992 8,5 years
Junior ? M Iceland 11/1984 Marineland Ontario 6/1994 9,5 years
Freyja / Patty ? F Iceland 11/1984 Kamogawa SeaWorld, Japan 9/16/1987 3 years
no name ? M Iceland 11/1984 Saedyrasafnid, Iceland 1/1985 2 months
Kandu 7 ? M Iceland 11/1984 Marineland Ontario 12/21/2005 21 years
no name Corky 2 F captivity 7/22/1985 Marineland California 9/1/1985 1 month
Milagro ? M Argentina 8/8/1985 Acuario Mundo Marino, Buenos Aires 2/10/1991 5,5 years
Goro ? M Japan 10/1985 Nanki Shirahama Adventure World, Japan 1/21/2005 19 years
Baby Shamu 2 Kenau ? captivity 1/5/1986 SeaWorld California 1/16/1986 11 days
no name Kandu 5 ? captivity 1/31/1986 SeaWorld California 1/31/1986 stillbirth
Shachi ? F Japan 2/1986 Izu-Mito Sea Paradise, Japan 3/1988 2 years
no name ? F Japan 2/1986 fishermen group, Japan 4/1986 2 months
no name Corky 2 ? captivity 7/27/1986 Marineland California 7/27/1986 miscarriage
no name Corky 2 ? captivity 8/1987 SeaWorld California 8/1987 miscarriage
Magy / Maggie / Miss Piggy ? F Iceland 10/1987 Kamogawa SeaWorld, Japan 10/7/1997 10 years
Bubba / Prince ? M Iceland 10/1987 Ocean Park, Hongkong 7/1991 4 years
no name Kona 2 ? captivity 10/15/1987 SeaWorld Florida 10/15/1987 fetus found at necropsy of Kona 2
Belen / Bethlehem ? F Argentina 1/6/1988 Acuario Mundo Marino, Buenos Aires 2/4/2000 12 years
Katerina Katina F captivity 11/4/1988 SeaWorld Texas 5/5/1999 10,5 years
no name Bjossa F captivity 11/13/1988 Vancouver Aquarium 12/4/1988 22 days
Splash Nootka 5 M captivity 8/15/1989 SeaWorld California 4/5/2005 15,5 years
Ai ? F Iceland 10/1989 Nanki Shirahama Adventure World, Japan 8/1995 6 years
Yamato / Tanouk ? M Iceland 10/1989 Izu-Mito Sea Paradise, Japan 10/24/2000 11 years
Ran ? F Iceland 10/1989 Nanki Shirahama Adventure World, Japan 08/29/2004 15 years
Sharkane ? F Iceland 10/1989 Marineland Antibes, France 01/03/2009 19 years
1990<
no name Kahana ? captivity 11/6/1990 SeaWorld Texas 11/6/1990 miscarriage
no name Freya ? captivity 3/3/1991 Marineland Antibes, France 3/3/1991 stillbirth
no name Kenau M captivity 8/6/1991 SeaWorld Florida 8/6/1991 Kenau dies during 12th month of pregnancy
K'yosha Bjossa F captivity 9/30/1991 Vancouver Aquarium 1/4/1992 96 days
no name Nootka 4 M captivity 2/4/1992 Sealand Victoria, BC 3/9/1992 33 days
no name Samoa F captivity 3/14/1992 SeaWorld Texas 3/14/1992 Samoa dies during labor of near full-term fetus
no name Kiska M captivity 8/24/1992 Marineland Ontario 10/25/1992 62 days
Neocia / Baby October Nootka 5 F captivity 10/21/1992 Marineland Ontario 08/01/2004 12 years
"Father of Kshamenk" (got the name because he was an adult male, it is not known whether he was Kshamenk's father indeed) ? M Argentina 9/17/1992 Acuario Mundo Marino, Buenos Aires 9/17/1992 1 day
no name Freya ? captivity 3/1993 Marineland Antibes, France 3/1993 stillbirth
Taku Katina M captivity 09/09/1993 SeaWorld Texas 10/17/2007 14 years
Nyar Gudrun F captivity 12/31/1993 SeaWorld Florida 4/1/1996 2,5 years
no name Nootka 4 ? captivity 8/18/1994 SeaWorld Florida 8/18/1994 stillbirth
Kanuck Kiska M captivity 8/28/1994 Marineland Ontario 1998 4 years
no name Haida 2 F captivity 11/20/1994 SeaWorld Texas 12/28/1994 38 days
no name Maggie M captivity 3/3/1995 Kamogawa SeaWorld, Japan 3/3/1995 1 day
no name Bjossa F captivity 3/8/1995 Vancouver Aquarium 3/8/1995 1 day
no name Gudrun ? captivity 2/21/1996 SeaWorld Florida 2/21/1996 stillbirth
Malik/E-Day Nootka 5 F captivity 4/21/1996 Marineland Ontario 3/4/2000 4 years
Nova Kiska M captivity 11/6/1996 Marineland Ontario 8/20/2001 4,5 years
no name ? M Japan 2/9/1997 Nanki Shirahama Adventure World, Japan 6/14/1997 4 months
no name ? F Japan 2/9/1997 Nanki Shirahama Adventure World, Japan 6/17/1997 4 months
Kyu ? M Japan 2/9/1997 Nanki Shirahama Adventure World, Japan 9/18/2004 7,5 years
Asuka ? F Japan 2/9/1997 Izu-Mito Sea Paradise, Japan 9/19/2007 10,5 years
Ku / Coo ? F Japan 2/9/1997 Port of Nagoya Aquarium, Japan 9/19/2008 11,5 years
no name Kalina ? captivity 2/27/1997 SeaWorld Florida 2/27/1997 stillbirth
no name ? ? captivity 4/1997 Nanki Shirahama Adventure World, Japan 4/1997 miscarriage
no name Maggie F captivity 10/5/1997 Kamogawa SeaWorld, Japan 10/5/1997 stillbirth
no name Belen ? captivity 2/1998 Acuario Mundo Marino, Buenos Aires 2/1998 stillbirth
? Nootka 5 F captivity 5/27/1998 Marineland Ontario 6/7/1998 11 days
Hudson Kiska M captivity 9/15/1998 Marineland Ontario 10/20/2004 6 years
Algonquin Nootka 5 M captivity 12/18/1999 Marineland Ontario 8/13/2002 2,5 years
2000<
no name Belen ? captivity 2/4/2000 Acuario Mundo Marino, Buenos Aires 2/4/2000 Belen dies during 4th month of pregnancy
no name Freya ? captivity 3/2001 Marineland Antibes, France 3/2001 stillbirth
no name Haida 2 M captivity 8/1/2001 SeaWorld Texas 8/1/2001 Haida 2 dies during 5th month of pregnancy
no name Nootka 5 ? captivity winter 2001/2002 Marineland Ontario winter 2001/2002 miscarriage
no name Freya ? captivity 4/2003 Marineland Antibes, France 4/2003 stillbirth
Sarah Stella F captivity 05/31/2003 Kamogawa SeaWorld, Japan 04/26/2006 3 years
no name ? F Russia 09/26/2003 Utrish Dolphinarium, Russia 10/24/2003 28 days
April Nootka 5 F captivity 04/07/2004 Marineland Ontario 05/2004 1 month
no name Neocia ? captivity 07/2004 Marineland Ontario 07/2004 miscarriage
Athena Kiska F captivity 08/08/2004 Marineland Ontario spring 2009 4,5 years
no name Ran F? captivity 08/26/2004 Nanki Shirahama Adventure World, Japan 08/28/2004 2 days
Halyn Kayla F captivity 10/9/2005 SeaWorld Texas 6/15/2008 2,5 years
no name ? M Japan 02/10/2006 Kamogawa SeaWorld, Japan 02/13/2006 3 days
no name Unna F captivity 4/2006 SeaWorld Texas 4/2006 stillbirth
no name Nootka 5 ? captivity 5/2006? Marineland Ontario 5/2006? miscarriage
Pascuala ? F Mexico 04/10/2007 Vallarta Adventures Dolphin Center, Mexico 06/10/2007 2 months
Not included in the total number given on top of the page are the 27 unsuccessful pregnancies which didn't result in a live born calf.
Also not included are mortalities during capture operations which were, at least in the years until 1970, another 10 orcas in WA, USA and 1 orca in BC, Canada. Another orca died during the 1992 capture in Argentina. On September 26, 2003, a juvenile female orca died during a capture in Russia.
All these included would bring the total death count up to 192 orcas.

Note: According to data recently released by the Japanese Fisheries Agency, in total 63 orcas have been taken in Japanese waters since 1972. Two of these orcas are still alive, 18 are listed as dead in the above count. That means that in addition to the ones listed above another 43 orcas have been taken, possibly killed during captures or more probably killed for meat or pet food.

deceased orcas by time in captivity
deceased orcas by date of death
deceased orcas by aquarium
deceased orcas by origin

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