Orca Homepage has been retired in October 2018 and is no longer updated. Data and images of "Orcas in Captivity" have been transferred to
Inherently Wild.


They

did not

survive

the show ...
Pender Harbour, BC, Canada, April 1968, courtesy of the Vancouver Sun

The deadly history of captive killer whales

Current number of known orcas that died in captivity: 167



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 EST. AGE AT CAPT. AQUARIUM DIED TIME IN CAPTIVITY
1960<
Wanda ? F CA, USA 1961/11/18 7 years Marineland California 1961/11/20 2 days
Moby Doll J pod M WA, USA 1964/7/16 5 years Vancouver Aquarium 1964/10/9 3 months
Namu / C11 C5? M BC, Canada 1965/6/23 more than 9 years Seattle Marine Aquarium, WA 1966/7/9 1 year
Shamu J, K or L pod F WA, USA 1965/10/31 4 years SeaWorld California 1971/8/29 6 years
Katy K pod F WA, USA 1967/2/15 less than 1 year Seattle Marine Aquarium, WA 1967/5 3 months
Kandu K pod F WA, USA 1967/2/15 1 year SeaWorld California 1971/2/3 4 years
Kilroy K pod M WA, USA 1967/2/15 less than 1 year SeaWorld California 1978/9/23 11,5 years
Skana / Walter K pod F WA, USA 1967/2/15 4 years Vancouver Aquarium 1980/10/5 13,5 years
Ramu K pod M WA, USA 1967/2/15 4 years SeaWorld Florida 1982/1/12 15 years
Orky I11 pod M BC, Canada 1967/7/29 4 years Marineland California 1969/7 2 years
Lupa ? F WA, USA 1968/2 8 years New York Aquarium 1968/9/6 7 months
Hugo ? M WA, USA 1968/2 3 years Miami Seaquarium, FL 1980/3/4 12 years
Bonnie A5 pod? F BC, Canada 1968/4 9 years Marine World California 1968/7/30 3 months
Natsidalia A5 pod? F BC, Canada 1968/4 8 years Vancouver Aquarium 1968/11 7 months
Corky A5 pod? F BC, Canada 1968/4 3 years Marineland California 1970/12 2,5 years
Kianu / Clyde A5 pod? F BC, Canada 1968/4 8 years Nanki Shirahama Adventure World, Japan 1980/6 12 years
Orky 2 A5 pod? M BC, Canada 1968/4 6 years SeaWorld California 1988/9/26 20 years
Hyak 2 / Tung-Jen Natsidalia M BC, Canada 1968/4 1 year Vancouver Aquarium 1991/2/16 23 years
Tula ? M BC, Canada 1968/7 3 years Dolfinarium Harderwijck, Netherlands 1968/10 3 months
no name Bonnie ? captivity 1968/7/30 - Marine World California 1968/7/30 stillbirth
Ahab J or L pod M WA, USA 1968/10/15 8 years US Navy, Hawaii 1974 5,5 years
Cuddles J or L pod M WA, USA 1968/10/15 2 years Dudley Zoo, Great Britain 1974/2/6 5,5 years
Mamuk J or L pod M WA, USA 1968/10/15 3 years Sea-Arama Texas 1974/6/14 5,5 years
Haida J or L pod M WA, USA 1968/10/15 4 years 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 5 years Seattle Marine Aquarium, WA date unknown ?
Ramu 2 ? M WA, USA 1969/4 9 years Marineland Australia 1970/5/21 1 year
Calypso A25? F BC, Canada 1969/12/12 6 years Marineland Antibes, France 1970/12 1 year
Patches A25? F BC, Canada 1969/12/12 less than 1 year Marineland California 1971/8 1,5 years
Kenny A25? M BC, Canada 1969/12/12 4 years Marineland California 1972/5/20 2,5 years
Nepo A25? M BC, Canada 1969/12/12 2 years Marine World California 1980/7/10 10,5 years
Yaka A8? F BC, Canada 1969/12/12 1 year Marine World California 1997/10/29 28 years
1970<
no name ? ? WA, USA 1970/2 5 years Seattle Marine Aquarium, WA date unknown ?
Scarredjaw Cow / T3 ? F BC, Canada 1970/3/1 more than 8 years Sealand Victoria, BC 1970/5/15 2 months
Chimo / T4 T3? F BC, Canada 1970/3/1 2 years Sealand Victoria, BC 1972/11/2 2,5 years
Nootka / Knootka / Newtka / T5 T2? F BC, Canada 1970/3/1 4 years SeaWorld California 1990/3/13 20 years
Lil' Nooka J, K or L pod M WA, USA 1970/8/8 1 year Sea-Arama Texas 1971/3 7 months
Ramu 4 J, K or L pod M WA, USA 1970/8/8 2 years Marineland Australia 1971/8 1 year
Wally / Whale J, K or L pod F WA, USA 1970/8/8 less than 1 year Munich, Germany 1971/10/4 1 year
Clovis J, K or L pod M WA, USA 1970/8/8 2 years Marineland Antibes, France 1973/2 2,5 years
Chappy J, K or L pod F WA, USA 1970/8/8 2 years Kamogawa Sea World, Japan 1974/4 3,5 years
Jumbo J, K or L pod M WA, USA 1970/8/8 5 years Kamogawa Sea World, Japan 1974/7 4 years
Winston / Ramu J, K or L pod M WA, USA 1970/8/8 4 years SeaWorld California 1986/4/28 15,5 years
Kandu 3 L pod F WA, USA 1971/8 3 years SeaWorld Florida 1975/6 4 years
Kona L pod F WA, USA 1971/8 4 years SeaWorld California 1977/9/28 6 years
Kandu 2 L pod M WA, USA 1971/8 3 years Marineland Ontario 1979/10 8 years
no name ? M WA, USA 1971/11 3-4 years Seattle Marine Aquarium, WA date unknown ?
no name ? M WA, USA 1971/11 3-4 years Seattle Marine Aquarium, WA date unknown ?
Canuck / J24 J pod M WA, USA 1972/3/12 2 years SeaWorld Florida 1974/12/1 2,5 years
Zero ? F Japan 1972/8 unknown Kamogawa Sea World, Japan 1972/9 15 days
Sandy ? F WA, USA 1973/3 6 years SeaWorld Florida 1977/10/22 4,5 years
Kandy L pod F WA, USA 1973/8 7 years Marineland Ontario 1973/11/16 3 months
Frankie L pod M WA, USA 1973/8 9 years SeaWorld California 1974/1/29 5 months
Nootka 2 K pod F WA, USA 1973/8 8 years Sealand Victoria, BC 1974/5/1 9 months
Nootka 3 T? F BC, Canada 1975/8/16 3 years Sealand Victoria, BC 1976/5 9 months
Kandu 4 / Kanduke / T9 T7? M BC, Canada 1975/8/16 4 years SeaWorld Florida 1990/9/20 15 years
Kim / Oum ? M Iceland 1976/10/25 5 years Marineland Antibes, France 1982/7/24 5,5 years
Kenau ? F Iceland 1976/10/25 1 year SeaWorld Florida 1991/8/6 15 years
Gudrun ? F Iceland 1976/10/25 less than 1 year 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 WA, USA 1977/8/9 1 year Sealand Victoria, BC 1982/1 4,5 years
Magnus ? M Iceland 1977/10/12 1 year Dolfinarium Harderwijck, Netherlands 1977/12/18 2 months
Canuck 2 ? M Iceland 1977/10/12 2 years SeaWorld California 1981/8/2 4 years
Kona 2 ? F Iceland 1977/10/12 2 years SeaWorld Florida 1987/10/15 10 years
Kandu 5 ? F Iceland 1977/10/12 3 years SeaWorld California 1989/8/21 12 years
Hoi Wai / Suzie Wong ? F Iceland 1977/10/12 less than 1 year Ocean Park, Hongkong 1997/4/21 19,5 years
Winnie ? F Iceland 1977/10/12 less than 1 year SeaWorld Texas 2002/4/11 24,5 years
no name ? M Iceland 1978/10/26 1 year Saedyrasafnid, Iceland 1979/2 4 months
Shawn? ? F Iceland 1978/10/26 1 year SeaWorld California 1979/9/3 1 year
Betty ? F Iceland 1978/10/26 3 years Marineland Antibes, France 1987/9/8 9 years
Kahana ? F Iceland 1978/10/26 1 year SeaWorld Texas 1991/5/14 12,5 years
Kotar ? M Iceland 1978/10/26 less than 1 year SeaWorld Texas 1995/4/1 16,5 years
Kasatka ? F Iceland 1978/10/26 1 year SeaWorld California 2017/8/15 39 years
Spooky Corky 2 M captivity 1978/10/31 - Marineland California 1978/11/10 11 days
no name ? F Iceland 1978/11 1 year Saedyrasafnid, Iceland 1979/2 3 months
no name ? M Japan 1978/12 unknown Taiji Whaling Museum, Japan 1978/12 5 days
no name ? F Japan 1979/2/26 more than 9 years Nanki Shirahama Adventure World, Japan 1979/3 1 month
no name ? F Japan 1979/2/26 more than 9 years Nanki Shirahama Adventure World, Japan 1979/4 2 months
Chi ? F Japan 1979/2/26 9 years Taiji Whaling Museum, Japan 1979/6 4 months
Tai ? M Japan 1979/2/26 more than 9 years Taiji Whaling Museum, Japan 1982/6 3 years
Benkei ? M Japan 1979/2/26 7 years 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 unknown Marine World California 1979/6/3 9 days
Dzul-ha / Shamu ? M Iceland 1979/7 1 year Aquarama on Parade, Mexico 1983 4 years
no name ? F Iceland 1979/11 3 years Marineland Ontario 1980/1 3 months
King ? M Iceland 1979/11 less than 1 year Kamogawa Sea World, Japan 1983/10/4 4 years
Caren / Calen ? F Iceland 1979/11 2 years Kamogawa Sea World, 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 less than 1 year Nanki Shirahama Adventure World, Japan 1983/7 2,5 years
Finna ? M Iceland 1980/11/19 3 years Vancouver Aquarium 1997/10/6 17 years
Vigga ? F Iceland 1980/11/19 1 year Marine World California 2000/8/14 19,5 years
Bjossa ? F Iceland 1980/11/19 3 years SeaWorld California 2001/10/8 21 years
no name ? F Iceland 1981/10 4 years Marineland Ontario 1982? ?
no name ? M Iceland 1981/10 less than 1 year Clacton Pier, Great Britain 1981/12 2 months
Neptune ? M Iceland 1981/10 4 years Clacton Pier, Great Britain 1983/6 1,5 years
Nemo ? M Iceland 1981/10 less than 1 year Windsor Safari Park, Great Britain 1986/11/17 5 years
Ruka / Orca ? F Iceland 1981/10 2 years Nanki Shirahama Adventure World, Japan 2000/3/29 18,5 years
Nootka 5 ? F Iceland 1981/10 2 years Marineland Ontario 2008/1/8 26 years
no name ? M Japan 1982/2 more than 9 years Taiji Whaling Museum, Japan 1982/6 4 months
Benkei 3 ? M Japan 1982/2 less than 1 year "private home", Japan 1983/12 1,5 years
Sacchi ? F Japan 1982/2 more than 9 years 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 1 year Sealand Victoria, BC 1983/5/29 8 months
Nootka 4 ? F Iceland 1982/10 3 years SeaWorld Florida 1994/9/13 12 years
Haida 2 ? F Iceland 1982/10 less than 1 year SeaWorld Texas 2001/8/1 19 years
Kim 2 ? M Iceland 1982/10 less than 1 year Marineland Antibes, France 2005/11/23 23 years
Freya ? F Iceland 1982/10 1 year Marineland Antibes, France 2015/6/20 32,5 years
Tilikum ? M Iceland 1983/11/9 3 years SeaWorld Florida 2017/1/6 33 years
Nandu ? M Iceland 1983/11/14 2 years Acuarama Sao Paulo, Brasil 1988/3/2 4,5 years
Samoa ? F Iceland 1983/11/14 3 years SeaWorld Texas 1992/3/14 8,5 years
no name ? M Iceland 1984/11 4 years Saedyrasafnid, Iceland 1985/1 2 months
Freyja / Patty ? F Iceland 1984/11 2 years Kamogawa Sea World, Japan 1987/9/16 3 years
Junior ? M Iceland 1984/11 2 years Marineland Ontario 1994/6 9,5 years
Kandu 7 ? M Iceland 1984/11 6 years Marineland Ontario 2005/12/21 21 years
Bingo / Thor ? M Iceland 1984/11 2 years Port of Nagoya Aquarium, Japan 2014/8/2 29,5 years
no name Corky 2 F captivity 1985/7/22 - Marineland California 1985/9/1 1 month
Milagro ? M Argentina 1985/8/8 unknown Mundo Marino, Buenos Aires 1991/2/10 5,5 years
Kalina Katina F captivity 1985/9/26 - SeaWorld Florida 2010/10/4 25 years
Goro ? M Japan 1985/10 less than 1 year Nanki Shirahama Adventure World, Japan 2005/1/21 19 years
Nami ? F Japan 1985/10 3 years 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 unknown fishermen group, Japan 1986/4 2 months
Shachi ? F Japan 1986/2 6 years 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 3 years Ocean Park, Hongkong 1991/7 4 years
Magy / Maggie / Miss Piggy ? F Iceland 1987/10 3 years Kamogawa Sea World, Japan 1997/10/7 10 years
Oscar / Wolfie ? M Iceland 1987/10 1 year Kamogawa Sea World, Japan 2012/12/20 25 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 unknown 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 / Katak Nootka 5 M captivity 1989/8/15 - SeaWorld California 2005/4/5 15,5 years
Ai ? F Iceland 1989/10 1-2 years Nanki Shirahama Adventure World, Japan 1995/8/25 6 years
Yamato / Tanouk ? M Iceland 1989/10 3 years Izu-Mito Sea Paradise, Japan 2000/10/24 11 years
Ran ? F Iceland 1989/10 1-2 years Nanki Shirahama Adventure World, Japan 2004/8/29 15 years
Sharkan / Sharkane ? F Iceland 1989/10 4 years 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 unknown 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 Sea World, Japan 1995/3/3 1 day
no name Bjossa F captivity 1995/3/8 - Vancouver Aquarium 1995/3/8 1 day
Valentin Freya M captivity 1996/2/13 - Marineland Antibes, France 2015/10/12 19,5 years
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
Unna Katina F captivity 1996/12/27 - SeaWorld Texas 2015/12/21 19 years
no name ? M Japan 1997/2/9 3 years Nanki Shirahama Adventure World, Japan 1997/6/14 4 months
no name ? F Japan 1997/2/9 more than 9 years Nanki Shirahama Adventure World, Japan 1997/6/17 4 months
Kyu ? M Japan 1997/2/9 5 years Nanki Shirahama Adventure World, Japan 2004/9/18 7,5 years
Asuka ? F Japan 1997/2/9 7 years Izu-Mito Sea Paradise, Japan 2007/9/19 10,5 years
Ku / Coo ? F Japan 1997/2/9 5 years 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 Sea World, 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 Sea World, Japan 2006/4/26 3 years
no name ? F Russia 2003/9/26 unknown 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 3-4 years Kamogawa Sea World, 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
no name Kayla M captivity 2007/4 - SeaWorld Florida 2007/4 stilbirth (Kayla had been pregnant when moved from Texas to Florida in November 2006)
Pascuala ? F Mexico 2007/4/10 a couple weeks Vallarta Adventures Dolphin Center, Mexico 2007/6/10 2 months
2010<
no name Taima ? captivity 2010/6/6 - SeaWorld Florida 2010/6/6 stillbirth (Taima dies during labor of near full-term fetus)
no name Takara ? captivity 2012/3 - SeaWorld Texas 2012/3 miscarriage (Takara had been AI'd with Kshamenk's semen in July 2011)
Vicky Kohana F captivity 2012/8/3 - Loro Parque Tenerife, Spain 2013/6/16 10 months
Tama Tiger ? M New Zealand 2016/8/3 - Tauranga Harbour, New Zealand 2016/8/6 3 days
Kyara Takara F captivity 2017/4/19 - SeaWorld Texas 2017/7/24 3 months
Not included in the total number given on top of the page are the 30 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. In August 2012 at least one more orca died during a Russian capture.
All these included would bring the total death count up to 211 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.
Growth rate defined by Duffield and Miller (1988) was used to estimate the age from the length at time of capture.

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

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