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The Pod
Location: Antibes, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azuria
Website Photo Galleries by VisualLightbox.com Orcas between: 1970 - Present
Number of Orcas: 13
Marineland France always had a pod structure that was similar to a wild orca pod. The group consits of a male orca, 2 females and their offspring. Due to the lack of pools in the old stadium, a permanent separation was not possible but also not necessary. After some tensions between the females, Freya and Sharkan, the orcas settled in and Freya became the dominant female after the first orca was born at the park. Sometimes there were some minor "fights" between the females but they performed together and if they have to be separated, then it wasnt't for long.
Kim II, MLF's only breeding male, spent most of his time with his daughter, Shouka whom he got along very well with. Unfortunately she has been transferred to a park in the USA. Kim became lazy after her move and gained weight. During his life at MLF, he always had been with the calves soon after the birth. He was very gentle to them and often performed alongside his children during the shows. After Kim's death, there were no changes within the pod. The orcas still got along well. Although MLF's pools are large and every orca could have its own pool, all five orcas were always in the same pool. Valentin is maturing now and will soon take the place of his father. But no one knows how many orcas MLf will keep in the future. It has been rumoured that two orcas will move to Valencia. It's still uncertain which orcas leave and when the transfer is going to happen. Also it has been said, orcas won't be transferred until new ones are born, so the transfer is most likely delayed as Marineland recently lost their main breeding female Sharkan in January 2009.
Pod Structure
©
Valerie Meyer
The PodLocation: Antibes, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azuria
Website Photo Galleries by VisualLightbox.com Orcas between: 1970 - Present
Number of Orcas: 13
Marineland France always had a pod structure that was similar to a wild orca pod. The group consits of a male orca, 2 females and their offspring. Due to the lack of pools in the old stadium, a permanent separation was not possible but also not necessary. After some tensions between the females, Freya and Sharkan, the orcas settled in and Freya became the dominant female after the first orca was born at the park. Sometimes there were some minor "fights" between the females but they performed together and if they have to be separated, then it wasnt't for long.
Kim II, MLF's only breeding male, spent most of his time with his daughter, Shouka whom he got along very well with. Unfortunately she has been transferred to a park in the USA. Kim became lazy after her move and gained weight. During his life at MLF, he always had been with the calves soon after the birth. He was very gentle to them and often performed alongside his children during the shows. After Kim's death, there were no changes within the pod. The orcas still got along well. Although MLF's pools are large and every orca could have its own pool, all five orcas were always in the same pool. Valentin is maturing now and will soon take the place of his father. But no one knows how many orcas MLf will keep in the future. It has been rumoured that two orcas will move to Valencia. It's still uncertain which orcas leave and when the transfer is going to happen. Also it has been said, orcas won't be transferred until new ones are born, so the transfer is most likely delayed as Marineland recently lost their main breeding female Sharkan in January 2009.
