They

did not

survive

the show ...

The deadly history of captive killer whales

Current number of known orcas that died in captivity: 156



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 1961/11/18 Marineland California 1961/11/20 2 days
Moby Doll J pod M WA, USA 1964/7/16 Vancouver Aquarium 1964/10/9 3 months
Namu / C11 C5? M BC, CAN 1965/6/23 Seattle Marine Aquarium, WA 1966/7/9 1 year
Shamu J, K or L pod F WA, USA 1965/10/31 SeaWorld California 1971/8/29 6 years
Katy K pod F WA, USA 1967/2/15 Seattle Marine Aquarium, WA 1967/5 3 months
Kandu K pod F WA, USA 1967/2/15 SeaWorld California 1971/6/16 4 years
Kilroy K pod M WA, USA 1967/2/15 SeaWorld California 1978/9/23 11,5 years
Skana / Walter K pod F WA, USA 1967/2/15 Vancouver Aquarium 1980/10/5 13,5 years
Ramu K pod M WA, USA 1967/2/15 SeaWorld Florida 1982/1/12 15 years
Orky I11 pod M BC, CAN 1967/7/29 Marineland California 1969/7 2 years
Lupa ? F WA, USA 1968/2 New York Aquarium 1968/9/6 7 months
Hugo ? M WA, USA 1968/2 Miami Seaquarium, FL 1980/3/4 12 years
Bonnie A5 pod? F BC, CAN 1968/4 Marine World California 1968/8/15 4 months
Natsidalia A5 pod? F BC, CAN 1968/4 Vancouver Aquarium 1968/11 7 months
Corky A5 pod? F BC, CAN 1968/4 Marineland California 1970/12 2,5 years
Kianu / Clyde A5 pod? F BC, CAN 1968/4 Nanki Shirahama Adventure World, Japan 1980/6 12 years
Orky 2 A5 pod? M BC, CAN 1968/4 SeaWorld California 1988/9/26 20 years
Hyak 2 / Tung-Jen Natsidalia M BC, CAN 1968/4 Vancouver Aquarium 1991/2/16 23 years
Tula ? M BC, CAN 1968/7 Dolfinarium Harderwijck, Netherlands 1968/10 3 months
no name Bonnie ? captivity 1968/8/15 Marine World California 1968/8/15 stillbirth
Ahab J or L pod M WA, USA 1968/10 US Navy, Hawaii 1974 5,5 years
Cuddles J or L pod M WA, USA 1968/10 Dudley Zoo, Great Britain 1974/2/6 5,5 years
Mamuk J or L pod M WA, USA 1968/10 Sea-Arama Texas 1974/6 5,5 years
Haida J or L pod M WA, USA 1968/10 Sealand Victoria, BC 1982/10/3 14 years
no name Kianu ? captivity 1968 Marine World California 1968 stillbirth
no name ? F WA, USA 1969/4 Seattle Marine Aquarium, WA date unknown ?
Ramu 2 ? M WA, USA 1969/4 Marineland Australia 1970/5/21 1 year
Calypso A25? F BC, CAN 1969/12/12 Marineland Antibes, France 1970/12 1 year
Patches A25? F BC, CAN 1969/12/12 Marineland California 1971/8 1,5 years
Kenny A25? M BC, CAN 1969/12/12 Marineland California 1972/5 2,5 years
Nepo A25? M BC, CAN 1969/12/12 Marine World California 1980/7/10 10,5 years
Yaka A8? F BC, CAN 1969/12/12 Marine World California 1997/10/29 28 years
1970<
no name ? ? WA, USA 1970/2 Seattle Marine Aquarium, WA date unknown ?
Scarredjaw Cow / T3 ? F BC, CAN 1970/3/1 Sealand Victoria, BC 1970/5/15 2 months
Chimo / T4 T3? F BC, CAN 1970/3/1 Sealand Victoria, BC 1972/11/2 2,5 years
Nootka / Knootka / T5 T2? F BC, CAN 1970/3/1 SeaWorld California 1990/3/13 20 years
Lil' Nooka J, K or L pod M WA, USA 1970/8/8 Sea-Arama Texas 1971/3 7 months
Ramu 4 J, K or L pod M WA, USA 1970/8/8 Marineland Australia 1971/8 1 year
Wally / Whale J, K or L pod F WA, USA 1970/8/8 Munich, Germany 1971/10 1 year
Clovis J, K or L pod M WA, USA 1970/8/8 Marineland Antibes, France 1973/2 2,5 years
Chappy J, K or L pod F WA, USA 1970/8/8 Kamogawa SeaWorld, Japan 1974/4 3,5 years
Jumbo J, K or L pod M WA, USA 1970/8/8 Kamogawa SeaWorld, Japan 1974/7 4 years
Winston / Ramu J, K or L pod M WA, USA 1970/8/8 SeaWorld California 1986/4/28 15,5 years
Kandu 3 L pod F WA, USA 1971/8 SeaWorld California 1975/6 4 years
Kona L pod F WA, USA 1971/8 SeaWorld California 1977/9/28 6 years
Kandu 2 L pod M WA, USA 1971/8 Marineland Ontario 1979/10 8 years
no name ? M WA, USA 1971/11 Seattle Marine Aquarium, WA date unknown ?
no name ? M WA, USA 1971/11 Seattle Marine Aquarium, WA date unknown ?
Canuck / J24 J pod M WA, USA 1972/3/12 SeaWorld Florida 1974/12/1 2,5 years
Zero ? ? Japan 1972 Kamogawa SeaWorld, Japan 1972/9 15 days
Sandy ? F WA, USA 1973/3 SeaWorld Florida 1977/10 4,5 years
Kandy L pod F WA, USA 1973/8 Marineland Ontario 1973/11/16 3 months
Frankie L pod M WA, USA 1973/8 SeaWorld California 1974/1/29 5 months
Nootka 2 K pod F WA, USA 1973/8 Sealand Victoria, BC 1974/5/1 9 months
Nootka 3 T? F BC, CAN 1975/8/16 Sealand Victoria, BC 1976/5 9 months
Kandu 4 / Kanduke / T9 T7? M BC, CAN 1975/8/16 SeaWorld Florida 1990/9/20 15 years
Kim / Oum ? M Iceland 1976/10/25 Marineland Antibes, France 1982/7/24 5,5 years
Kenau ? F Iceland 1976/10/25 SeaWorld Florida 1991/8/6 15 years
Gudrun ? F Iceland 1976/10/25 SeaWorld Florida 1996/2/25 19,5 years
no name Corky 2 M captivity 1977/2/28 Marineland California 1977/3/16 18 days
Miracle ? F BC, CAN 1977/8/9 Sealand Victoria, BC 1982/1 4,5 years
Magnus ? M Iceland 1977/10/12 Dolfinarium Harderwijck, Netherlands 1977/12/18 2 months
Canuck 2 ? M Iceland 1977/10/12 SeaWorld California 1981/8/2 4 years
Kona 2 ? F Iceland 1977/10/12 SeaWorld Florida 1987/10/15 10 years
Kandu 5 ? F Iceland 1977/10/12 SeaWorld California 1989/8/21 12 years
Hoi Wai / Suzie Wong ? F Iceland 1977/10/12 Ocean Park, Hongkong 1997/4/21 19,5 years
Winnie ? F Iceland 1977/10/12 SeaWorld Texas 2002/4/11 24,5 years
no name ? M Iceland 1978/10/26 Saedyrasafnid, Iceland 1979/2 4 months
Shawn? ? F Iceland 1978/10/26 SeaWorld California 1979/9/3 1 year
Betty ? F Iceland 1978/10/26 Marineland Antibes, France 1987/9/8 9 years
Kahana ? F Iceland 1978/10/26 SeaWorld Texas 1991/5/14 12,5 years
Kotar ? M Iceland 1978/10/26 SeaWorld Texas 1995/4/1 16,5 years
Spooky Corky 2 M captivity 1978/10/31 Marineland California 1978/11/10 11 days
no name ? F Iceland 1978/11 Saedyrasafnid, Iceland 1979/2 3 months
no name ? M Japan 1978/12 Taiji Whaling Museum, Japan 1978/12 5 days
no name ? F Japan 1979/2/26 Nanki Shirahama Adventure World, Japan 1979/3 1 month
no name ? F Japan 1979/2/26 Nanki Shirahama Adventure World, Japan 1979/4 2 months
Chi ? F Japan 1979/2/26 Taiji Whaling Museum, Japan 1979/6 4 months
Tai ? M Japan 1979/2/26 Taiji Whaling Museum, Japan 1982/6 3 years
Benkei ? M Japan 1979/2/26 Nanki Shirahama Adventure World, Japan 1989/2 10 years
no name ? ? captivity 1979/3 Nanki Shirahama Adventure World, Japan 1979/3 stillbirth
Surfer Girl ? F CA, USA 1979/5/26 Marine World California 1979/6/3 9 days
Dzul-ha / Shamu ? M Iceland 1979/7 Aquarama on Parade, Mexico 1983 4 years
no name ? F Iceland 1979/11 Marineland Ontario 1980/1 3 months
King ? M Iceland 1979/11 Kamogawa SeaWorld, Japan 1983/10/4 4 years
Caren / Calen ? F Iceland 1979/11 Kamogawa SeaWorld, Japan 1987/5/4 7,5 years
1980<
no name Corky 2 ? captivity 1980/4/1 Marineland California 1980/4/1 stillbirth
Benkei 2 / Ushiwaka ? M Iceland 1980/10 Nanki Shirahama Adventure World, Japan 1983/7 2,5 years
Finna ? M Iceland 1980/11/19 Vancouver Aquarium 1997/10/6 17 years
Vigga ? F Iceland 1980/11/19 Marine World California 2000/8/14 19,5 years
Bjossa ? F Iceland 1980/11/19 SeaWorld California 2001/10/8 21 years
no name ? F Iceland 1981/10 Marineland Ontario date unknown ?
no name ? M Iceland 1981/10 Clacton Pier, Great Britain 1981/12 2 months
Neptune ? M Iceland 1981/10 Clacton Pier, Great Britain 1983/6 1,5 years
Nemo ? M Iceland 1981/10 Windsor Safari Park, Great Britain 1986/11/17 5 years
Ruka / Orca ? F Iceland 1981/10 Nanki Shirahama Adventure World, Japan 2000/3/29 18,5 years
Nootka 5 ? F Iceland 1981/10 Marineland Ontario 2008/1/8 26 years
no name ? M Japan 1982/2 Taiji Whaling Museum, Japan 1982/6 4 months
Benkei 3 ? M Japan 1982/2 "private home", Japan 1983/12 1,5 years
Sacchi ? F Japan 1982/2 Enoshima Marineland, Japan 1984/4 2 years
no name Sacchi M captivity 1982/5 Enoshima Marineland, Japan 1982/5 10 days
Kiva Corky 2 F captivity 1982/6/16 Marineland California 1982/8/3 48 days
no name ? M Iceland 1982/10 Sealand Victoria, BC 1983/5/29 8 months
Nootka 4 ? F Iceland 1982/10 SeaWorld Florida 1994/9/13 12 years
Haida 2 ? F Iceland 1982/10 SeaWorld Texas 2001/8/1 19 years
Kim 2 ? M Iceland 1982/10 Marineland Antibes, France 2005/11/23 23 years
Nandu ? M Iceland 1983/11 Acuarama Sao Paulo, Brasil 1988/3/2 4,5 years
Samoa ? F Iceland 1983/11 SeaWorld Texas 1992/3/14 8,5 years
no name ? M Iceland 1984/11 Saedyrasafnid, Iceland 1985/1 2 months
Freyja / Patty ? F Iceland 1984/11 Kamogawa SeaWorld, Japan 1987/9/16 3 years
Junior ? M Iceland 1984/11 Marineland Ontario 1994/6 9,5 years
Kandu 7 ? M Iceland 1984/11 Marineland Ontario 2005/12/21 21 years
no name Corky 2 F captivity 1985/7/22 Marineland California 1985/9/1 1 month
Milagro ? M Argentina 1985/8/8 Mundo Marino, Buenos Aires 1991/2/10 5,5 years
Kalina Katina F captivity 1985/9/26 SeaWorld Florida 2010/10/04 25 years
Goro ? M Japan 1985/10 Nanki Shirahama Adventure World, Japan 2005/1/21 19 years
Nami ? F Japan 1985/10 Port of Nagoya Public Aquarium, Japan 2011/1/14 25 years
Baby Shamu 2 Kenau ? captivity 1986/1/5 SeaWorld California 1986/1/16 11 days
no name Kandu 5 ? captivity 1986/1/31 SeaWorld California 1986/1/31 stillbirth
no name ? F Japan 1986/2 fishermen group, Japan 1986/4 2 months
Shachi ? F Japan 1986/2 Izu-Mito Sea Paradise, Japan 1988/3 2 years
no name Corky 2 ? captivity 1986/7/27 Marineland California 1986/7/27 miscarriage
no name Corky 2 ? captivity 1987/8 SeaWorld California 1987/8 miscarriage
Prince / Bubba ? M Iceland 1987/10 Ocean Park, Hongkong 1991/7 4 years
Magy / Maggie / Miss Piggy ? F Iceland 1987/10 Kamogawa SeaWorld, Japan 1997/10/7 10 years
no name Kona 2 ? captivity 1987/10/15 SeaWorld Florida 1987/10/15 fetus found at necropsy of Kona 2
Belen / Bethlehem ? F Argentina 1988/1/6 Mundo Marino, Buenos Aires 2000/2/4 12 years
Katerina Katina F captivity 1988/11/4 SeaWorld Texas 1999/5/5 10,5 years
no name Bjossa F captivity 1988/11/13 Vancouver Aquarium 1988/12/4 22 days
Taima Gudrun ? captivity 1989/7/11 SeaWorld Florida 2010/6/6 21 years
Splash Nootka 5 M captivity 1989/8/15 SeaWorld California 2005/4/5 15,5 years
Ai ? F Iceland 1989/10 Nanki Shirahama Adventure World, Japan 1995/8 6 years
Yamato / Tanouk ? M Iceland 1989/10 Izu-Mito Sea Paradise, Japan 2000/10/24 11 years
Ran ? F Iceland 1989/10 Nanki Shirahama Adventure World, Japan 2004/8/29 15 years
Sharkane ? F Iceland 1989/10 Marineland Antibes, France 2009/1/3 19 years
1990<
no name Kahana ? captivity 1990/11/6 SeaWorld Texas 1990/11/6 miscarriage
no name Freya ? captivity 1991/3/3 Marineland Antibes, France 1991/3/3 stillbirth
no name Kenau M captivity 1991/8/6 SeaWorld Florida 1991/8/6 Kenau dies during 12th month of pregnancy
K'yosha Bjossa F captivity 1991/9/30 Vancouver Aquarium 1992/1/4 96 days
no name Nootka 4 M captivity 1992/2/4 Sealand Victoria, BC 1992/3/9 33 days
no name Samoa F captivity 1992/3/14 SeaWorld Texas 1992/3/14 stillbirth (Samoa dies during labor of near full-term fetus)
no name Kiska M captivity 1992/8/24 Marineland Ontario 1992/10/25 62 days
Neocia / Baby October Nootka 5 F captivity 1992/10/21 Marineland Ontario 2004/8/1 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 1992/9/17 Mundo Marino, Buenos Aires 1992/9/17 1 day
no name Freya ? captivity 1993/3 Marineland Antibes, France 1993/3 stillbirth
Taku Katina M captivity 1993/9/9 SeaWorld Texas 2007/10/17 14 years
Nyar Gudrun F captivity 1993/12/31 SeaWorld Florida 1996/4/1 2,5 years
no name Nootka 4 ? captivity 1994/8/18 SeaWorld Florida 1994/8/18 stillbirth
Kanuck Kiska M captivity 1994/8/28 Marineland Ontario 1998 4 years
no name Haida 2 F captivity 1994/11/20 SeaWorld Texas 1994/12/28 38 days
no name Maggie M captivity 1995/3/3 Kamogawa SeaWorld, Japan 1995/3/3 1 day
no name Bjossa F captivity 1995/3/8 Vancouver Aquarium 1995/3/8 1 day
no name Gudrun ? captivity 1996/2/21 SeaWorld Florida 1996/2/21 stillbirth
Malik/E-Day Nootka 5 F captivity 1996/4/21 Marineland Ontario 2000/3/4 4 years
Nova Kiska M captivity 1996/11/6 Marineland Ontario 2001/8/20 4,5 years
no name ? M Japan 1997/2/9 Nanki Shirahama Adventure World, Japan 1997/6/14 4 months
no name ? F Japan 1997/2/9 Nanki Shirahama Adventure World, Japan 1997/6/17 4 months
Kyu ? M Japan 1997/2/9 Nanki Shirahama Adventure World, Japan 2004/9/18 7,5 years
Asuka ? F Japan 1997/2/9 Izu-Mito Sea Paradise, Japan 2007/9/19 10,5 years
Ku / Coo ? F Japan 1997/2/9 Port of Nagoya Aquarium, Japan 2008/9/19 11,5 years
no name Kalina ? captivity 1997/2/27 SeaWorld Florida 1997/2/27 stillbirth
no name ? ? captivity 1997/4 Nanki Shirahama Adventure World, Japan 1997/4 miscarriage
no name Maggie F captivity 1997/10/5 Kamogawa SeaWorld, Japan 1997/10/5 stillbirth
no name Belen ? captivity 1998/2 Mundo Marino, Buenos Aires 1998/2 stillbirth
Sumar Taima M captivity 1998/5/14 SeaWorld California 2010/9/7 12 years
no name Nootka 5 F captivity 1998/5/27 Marineland Ontario 1998/6/7 11 days
Hudson Kiska M captivity 1998/9/15 Marineland Ontario 2004/10/20 6 years
Algonquin Nootka 5 M captivity 1999/12/18 Marineland Ontario 2002/8/13 2,5 years
2000<
no name Belen ? captivity 2000/2/4 Mundo Marino, Buenos Aires 2000/2/4 Belen dies during 4th month of pregnancy
no name Freya ? captivity 2001/3 Marineland Antibes, France 2001/3 stillbirth
no name Haida 2 M captivity 2001/8/1 SeaWorld Texas 2001/8/1 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 2003/4 Marineland Antibes, France 2003/4 stillbirth
Sarah Stella F captivity 2003/5/31 Kamogawa SeaWorld, Japan 2006/4/26 3 years
no name ? F Russia 2003/9/26 Utrish Dolphinarium, Russia 2003/10/24 28 days
April Nootka 5 F captivity 2004/4/7 Marineland Ontario 2004/5 1 month
no name Neocia ? captivity 2004/7 Marineland Ontario 2004/7 miscarriage
Athena Kiska F captivity 2004/8/8 Marineland Ontario spring 2009 4,5 years
no name Ran F? captivity 2004/8/26 Nanki Shirahama Adventure World, Japan 2004/8/28 2 days
Halyn Kayla F captivity 2005/10/9 SeaWorld Texas 2008/6/15 2,5 years
no name ? M Japan 2006/2/10 Kamogawa SeaWorld, Japan 2006/2/13 3 days
no name Unna F captivity 2006/4 SeaWorld Texas 2006/4 stillbirth
no name Nootka 5 ? captivity 2006/5 ? Marineland Ontario 2006/5 ? miscarriage
Pascuala ? F Mexico 2007/4/10 Vallarta Adventures Dolphin Center, Mexico 2007/6/10 2 months
no name Taima ? captivity 2010/6/6 SeaWorld Florida 2010/6/6 stillbirth (Taima dies during labor of near full-term fetus)
Not included in the total number given on top of the page are the 28 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 197 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

Please for any corrections or comments or if you would like to improve this catalog with better pictures.
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