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Orcas Lived With
Milagro Jan-06 88 Feb-10 91
MM-OO-C9201 Sep-17 92 Sep-17 92
Kshamenk Sep-19 92 Feb-04 00

Resources
Measurements: 2000
Transfers: -
Photos: Mundo Marino





























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Gender Female
Age at Death 13+ years
Date of Capture January 6, 1988
Place of Capture Samborom Bay, Argentina
Date of Death February 4, 2000
Place of Death
Mundo Marino
Cause of Death Unknown

 
 About Belen
Belén was captured on January 6, 1988 and was immediately purchased by Mundo Marino. After her transfer, she met the park's resident male, Milagro* and both got along well. Once Belen was trained for shows, both orcas were used during daily performances but when Milagro* died in 1991, Mundo Marino was seeking for another orca to replace him.

In September 1992, two orcas were forced to  strand on a beach not too far away from Mundo Marino. The larger of the two orcas first arrived at the facility, but the older male died after one day in captivity; it's not known if Belén ever met him. The other male, later named Kshamenk, arrived two days later and became Belén's future tank mate.

Both orcas got along very well and when they reached sexually maturity, they soon mated. Belén got pregnant by the end of 1996 and In February 1998 she went into labour; unfortunately the baby was a stillborn. In the fall of 1999, it was reported that Belén was expecting her second calf.  Sadly Belén died on February 4, 2000, carrying a 4 month old foetus.  

 Name Meaning & Bloodline:

- Belén's name means "Bethlehem" in Spanish
- The pronunciation of Belen is:  bay-LEN
- Her Blood Type is: 100% Argentinian


 Family:

Belén's family is unknown as she was captured in Argentina and there is no information which community was from however she has had two calves (both fathered by Kshamenk).
1998: MM-OO-U9801
2000: MM-OO-U0001

Transfers:

Mundo Marino: January 6, 1988 - February 4, 2000  
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