Orcas

in

Captivity
Kim 2 (Marineland Antibes, France)

A look at killer whales in aquariums and parks

Current number of known orcas in captivity: 42



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 REMARKS
1960<
Corky 2 / A16 A23? F BC, CAN 12/12/1969 SeaWorld California Corky was about 3 years old when captured. She is a member of the Northern Resident killer whale population. Reportedly she is blind on one eye. She experienced 7 (seven!) unsuccessful pregnancies, with no calf surviving more than 46 days. Corky measures about 20.6 feet and weighs in at 8,200 pounds (Feb 2004).
1970<
Lolita L pod F WA, USA 08/08/1970 Miami Seaquarium Lolita, also known as Tokitae, was about 4 years old when captured. She is a member of the Southern Resident killer whale population. Lolita was pregnant a few times, when she was still together with her mate Hugo. but never delivered a life offspring. She measures about 20 feet and weighs in at 7,500 pounds (Feb 2004).
Katina ? F Iceland 10/26/1978 SeaWorld Florida Katina, also known as Kandu 6, was about 2 years old when captured. She became the first "successful" mother in captivity with her calf Kalina. Katina measures about 16.4 feet and weighs in at 5,600 pounds (Summer 2004). There are rumours that Katina is pregnant again.
Kasatka ? F Iceland 10/26/1978 SeaWorld California Kasatka was about 1 year old when captured. She became the first whale to be artificially inseminated in 2000, using Tillikum's semen. Kasatka measures about 17 feet and weighs in at 5,400 pounds (Feb 2004).
Kiska ? F Iceland 10/1979 Marineland Ontario Kiska was about 3 years old when captured. She measures about 20 feet and weighs in at 6,500 pounds (July 2006).
Ulises ? M Iceland 11/19/1980 SeaWorld California Ulises, sometimes spelled Ulysses, was about 3 years old when captured. He spent a long time alone in Barcelona, Spain. Ulises measures about 20,3 feet and weighs in at 9,400 pounds (Feb 2004).
1980<
Freya ? F Iceland 10/1982 Marineland Antibes, France Freya was about 1 year old when captured. She measures about 19.7 feet and weighs in at 6,700 pounds (Summer 2004).
Tillikum ? M Iceland 11/1983 SeaWorld Florida Tillikum, sometimes spelled Tilikum, was about 2 years old when captured. He is probably the biggest captive orca, weighing in at 12,300 pounds. He measures about 22.5 feet (Summer 2004).
Bingo ? M Iceland 11/1984 Kamogawa SeaWorld, Japan Bingo, also known as Thor, was about 2 years old when captured. He measures about 21.3 feet and weighs in at 8,818 pounds (Oct 2005).
Kalina Katina F captivity 09/26/1985 SeaWorld Florida Kalina became the first captive born mother in 1993 with her calf Keet. She was just 6 years old when impregnated. Kalina measures about 17.8 feet and weighs in at 6,280 pounds (Summer 2004).
Nami ? F Japan 10/1985 Taiji Whaling Museum, Japan Nami was about 3 years old when captured. She measures about 19.6 feet and weighs in at 6,613 pounds (2005).
Stella ? F Iceland 10/1987 Kamogawa SeaWorld, Japan Stella was about 1 year old when captured. She measures about 17 feet and weighs in at 4,409 pounds (2006).
Oscar ? M Iceland 10/1987 Kamogawa SeaWorld, Japan Oscar, also known as Wolfie, was about 1 year old when captured. He measures about 18.7 feet and weighs in at 7,165 pounds (October 2008).
Orkid Kandu 5 F captivity 09/23/1988 SeaWorld California Orkid is sometimes spelled Orchid. Her mother Kandu 5 died 08/21/1989. Orkid measures about 19 feet and weighs in at 5,900 pounds (Feb 2004). Orkid has been artificially inseminated several times, but so far without success.
Kayla Kenau F captivity 11/26/1988 SeaWorld Florida Kayla's mother Kenau died 08/06/1991. Kayla measures about 20 feet and weighs in at 6,000 pounds (2007).
Taima Gudrun F captivity 07/11/1989 SeaWorld Florida Taima's mother Gudrun died 02/25/1996. Taima measures about 18 feet and weighs in at 6,500 pounds (March 2007). There are rumours that Taima is pregnant again.
1990<
Takara Kasatka F captivity 07/09/1991 SeaWorld Texas Takara measures about 17 feet and weighs in at 5,080 pounds (January 2010).
Kyuquet Haida 2 M captivity 12/24/1991 SeaWorld Texas Kyuquet's mother Haida 2 died 08/01/2001. Kyuquet, also known as Ky or Kyuquot, was born at Sealand Victoria, Canada. Kyuquet measures about 21 feet and weighs in at 8,000 pounds (Oct 2007).
Kshamenk ? M Argentina 09/19/1992 Acuario Mundo Marino, Buenos Aires Kshamenk, also known as Sharmenk or Shamenk, was about 4 years old when captured. He was forced to strand. Kshamenk measures about 19.5 feet and weighs in at 7,800 pounds (March 2005).
Keet Kalina M captivity 02/02/1993 SeaWorld Texas Keet was separated from his mother at the age of 1 year 8 months to support Kalina's next pregnancy. Keet measures about 19 feet and weighs in at 5,990 pounds (Oct 2007).
Shouka Sharkane F captivity 02/25/1993 Six Flags California Shouka measures about 16.3 feet and weighs in at 4,700 pounds (Nov 2004).
Keto Kalina M captivity 06/17/1995 Loro Parque Tenerife, Spain Keto is also known as Kito. He measures about 18.3 feet and weighs in at 5,675 pounds (Jan 2008).
Valentin Freya M captivity 02/14/1996 Marineland Antibes, France Valentin measures about 16.7 feet and weighs in at 5,700 pounds (April 2006).
Unna Katina F captivity 12/27/1996 SeaWorld Texas Unna measures about 16 feet and weighs in at 4,900 pounds (April 2004).
Lovey Stella F captivity 01/11/1998 Kamogawa SeaWorld, Japan Lovey, also known as Oyako, became the first surviving captive born calf in Japan after 5 unsuccessful pregnancies. She measures about 16.7 feet and weighs in at 4,409 pounds (October 2008).
Sumar Taima M captivity 05/14/1998 SeaWorld California Sumar, also known as Summar, and Taima had been separated since November 1998 because of aggressions between them. On March, 8, 1999, Sumar, being not even 1 year old, was transferred from SeaWorld Florida to SeaWorld California. Sumar measures about 15.3 feet and weighs in at 3,200 pounds (Feb 2004).
Inouk Sharkane M captivity 02/23/1999 Marineland Antibes, France Inouk measures about 13.9 feet and weighs in at 2,500 pounds (April 2006).
Tuar Kalina M captivity 06/22/1999 SeaWorld Texas Kalina's latest calf first had been named Flash but people were unhappy with that name. Then he was named Tuar in an on-line poll. Tuar measures about 14 feet and weighs in at 2,500 pounds (Feb 2004).
2000<
Tekoa Taima M captivity 11/08/2000 Loro Parque Tenerife, Spain Tekoa measures about 14.4 feet (2007) and weighs in at 3,120 pounds (Jan 2008).
Lara Stella F captivity 02/08/2001 Kamogawa SeaWorld, Japan Lara measures about 15.7 feet and weighs in at 3,527 pounds (2009).
Wiki Sharkane F captivity 06/01/2001 Marineland Antibes, France Wiki, sometimes spelled Wikie, measures about 13.4 feet (April 2006).
Nakai Kasatka M captivity 09/01/2001 SeaWorld California Nakai measures about 13.2 feet and weighs in at 2,500 pounds (Feb 2004).
Kohana Takara F captivity 05/03/2002 Loro Parque Tenerife, Spain Kohana (Japanese for "little flower") had been referred to as Makea on the internet prior to her official naming. Kohana measures about 14.2 feet (2007) and weighs in at 2,770 pounds (Jan 2008).
Ikaika Katina M captivity 08/25/2002 Marineland Ontario Ikaika measures about 11.9 feet and weighs in at 1,800 pounds (Summer 2004).
Skyla Kalina F captivity 02/09/2004 Loro Parque Tenerife, Spain Skyla measures about 9.8 feet and weighs in at 1,960 pounds (Jan 2008).
Kalia Kasatka F captivity 12/21/2004 SeaWorld California -
Trua Takara M captivity 11/23/2005 SeaWorld Florida Trua (Icelandic for "believe") measures about 7 feet and weighs in at 350 pounds (Nov 2005).
Ran 2 Stella F captivity 02/25/2006 Kamogawa SeaWorld, Japan Ran 2 measures about 12.1 feet and weighs in at 1,764 pounds (2009).
Nalani Katina F captivity 09/18/2006 SeaWorld Florida Nalani measures about 7 feet and weighs in at 400 pounds (2008).
Malia Taima F captivity 03/12/2007 SeaWorld Florida Malia measures about 6 feet and weighs in at about 350 pounds (March 2007).
Earth Lovey M captivity 10/13/2008 Kamogawa SeaWorld, Japan Earth (yep, that's the name...) measures about 8.2 feet and weighs in at 683 pounds (2009).
no name Takara F captivity 01/07/2010 SeaWorld Texas -
Growth rate defined by Duffield and Miller (1988) was used to estimate the age from the length at time of capture.

captive orcas by aquarium
captive orcas by origin

Sources:


Thank you very much to Andreas Stüger for overhauling the captivity pages regarding statistics and links!


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Take a look at orcas deceased in captivity (last updated February 6, 2010)

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Study about the life expectancy of orcas in captivity

Study about the impact of the 1962-1973 captures on the Southern Resident orcas

Study about the Icelandic live-capture fishery for killer whales, 1976-1988

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The Story of Whale and Eagle

Thoughts on keeping cetaceans captive

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