Kianu (also known as Clyde and Big Mama) was captured off Pender Harbor, British Columbia in April 1968. Soon after her capture it was believed that she, and another female called Bonnie* were pregnant because of their enormous body size. The moves were already planned and both of them were moved to Marine World Africa, in Redwood City even though it was known that being kept in a sling could affect the pregnancies.

Bonnie* was the first female to give birth to a stillborn 35 days after their transfer but sadly, Bonnie* also died 15 days later. This left Kianu alone and she gave birth to a stillborn on August 22 1968 and Kianu survived the days after the birth.

By the end of 1969, two new orcas arrived Nepo* and Yaka* and Kianu was interested in Nepo and often fought with Yaka over him. Tensions grew every day and when it got worse, it was decided to move Kianu to Nanki Shirahama Adventure World in April 1978.

For one season, she performed on her own at the park and in 1979, she was joined by 3 new orcas. The two unnamed females died within months but the male survived, later named Benkei* and became a companion for Kianu. It's not known if the two got along as they were from completely different orca pods.

Unfortunately Kianu died from a gastrointestinal disease in June 1980. 

- Kianu means "Big Woman" in Aleut
- Kianu means "He who came from heaven to earth" in African
- Kianu is pronouced "Kee-ah-nuh"
- Blood Type: 100% Northern Resident

It is believed that Kianu originates from the A5 clan in the Northern Resident Orca community.  She conceived in the wild and gave birth in captivity; this is the only known calf from Kianu, MWA-OO-U6802