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 The Orcas 







Orca Transfers

Orca Pod

Photo © Brian Scott

































The Park

Location: San Diego, California, USA
Number of Pools: 5
Water Volume: approx. 24.2 Mio litres (6.38 Mio. gallones)

 Facts and Figures

It first opened in March 1964 and with only a few dolphins, sea lions, 6 attractions and 22 acres. The park proved to be a success and more than 400,000 guests visited there in just the first 12 months. In December 1965, SWC obtained their first orca; Shamu and in March of the following year, another two orcas joined their star, Shamu; then in December another joined the Shamu team. Because Shamu was such a success, the stage name till this day for the orcas is Shamu (hence shamucam etc). SWC has kept 33 orcas in total, 7 which are alive and 15 have died, 7 births aswell.
  • 32 Imported
  • 14 Exported
  • 6 Births
  • 17 Deaths
  • 0 Pregnancy
 Deceased Orcas

Name Gender Age Origin Cause of death
Kandu1 Female ~ 5 years USA Liver necrosis/ Pneumonia
Shamu Female ~ 10 years USA Uterus disease/ Septicemia
Frankie Male 10+ years USA Pneumonia/ Influenza
Canuck2 Male ~ 5 years USA Anemia/  Fungus infection
Kandu III Female ~ 7 years USA Uremia / Nephritis
Kona Female ~ 10 years USA Abcess
Kilroy Male ~ 12 years USA Pneumonia
Shawn Female ~ 2 years Iceland unknown
Canuck II Male ~ 6 years Iceland Chronic kidney disease
Baby Shamu II Female 11 days SWC Heart defect
Winston Male ~ 20 years USA Cronic cardivascular failure
Orky II Male ~ 26 years Canada Acute pneumonia
Kandu V Female ~ 15 years Iceland Fractured upper-jaw/ severe blood loss
Knootka Female ~ 24 years Canada Pneumonia
Bjossa Female ~ 24 years Iceland Respiratory disease
Splash Male 15 years MLC Perforated Stomach
Sumar Male 12 years SWF Twisted Intestine
1 No Confirmation if this orca died here or at SeaWorld Ohio
2 No Confirmation if this orca died here or at SeaWorld Orlando