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

Kasatka
Kasatka as "Shamu" at SeaWorld San Diego lifting a trainer out of the water.
SpeciesOrca
SexFemale
Bornc. 1976
Died15 August 2017(2017-08-15) (aged 40–41)
Years active1978–2017
Known forPerformer of the Shamu show.
Mate(s)
  • Kotar
  • Keet
Offspring
  • Takara (daughter)
  • Nakai (son)
  • Kalia (daughter)
  • Makani (son)

Life

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Kasatka was captured off the southeastern coast of Iceland on 26 October 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

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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:

  • Takara (born 1991), female (SeaWorld San Antonio)[8]
    • Kohana (born May 3, 2002 – September 14, 2022), female (Loro Parque)[9]
      • Adán (born October 13, 2010), male (Loro Parque)
      • Victoria ("Vicky") (August 3, 2012 – June 16, 2013), female (Loro Parque)
    • Trua (November 23, 2005), male (SeaWorld Orlando)[10][9]
    • Sakari (January 7, 2010), female (SeaWorld San Antonio)[11]
    • Kamea (December 6, 2013), female (SeaWorld San Antonio)[12]
    • Kyara (April 19, 2017 – July 24, 2017), female (SeaWorld San Antonio)[13]
  • Nakai (born September 1, 2001 – August 5, 2022), male (Seaworld San Diego); first orca conceived by artificial insemination[14]
  • Kalia[15] (born December 21, 2004), female (SeaWorld San Diego)[16]
    • Amaya (born December 2, 2014 – August 19, 2021), female (SeaWorld San Diego)[17][15]
  • Makani (born February 14, 2013), male (SeaWorld San Diego)[18]

See also

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References

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  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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