About
Orky II
Orky II
was a juvenile orca that was captured off Pender Harbor
in April 1968, along
with 6 other pod mates. He and Corky* were immediately sent to
Marineland of the Pacific located in California
a month later. Both of them possibly
met
the resident bull Orky*, who was about Orky
II's size and age.
Orky* died the following year, leaving Orky II and Corky* alone, who had began to participate in shows by then. By the end of the year Marineland purchased 3 other orcas, 2 females and a male; all of them were hold in the back pool until they got used to their new environment. The youngest female, called Patches* and was one of the first ones to meet Corky* and Orky II*.
When Corky* died, Orky II was joined by the other female called Corky II. Both of them performed during shows and were occasionally joined by the male, Kenny* or Patches* the female who resided in the back tanks. After their deaths in 1972 and 1971 respectively, Corky II and Orky II kept being the main performers.
Orky was described as a moody and intelligent whale. He had his times and when he wanted to, he used to test his trainers, especially the new ones. His eyes used to open wide with an apparent blood eye colouring. Due to his personality, experienced trainers didn't reward him for poor behaviours and signalled him again to repeat the behaviour. When he got too emotional, he was often ignored and trainers let him do what he wanted. Despite his temperamental attitude, he was a great performer and always lifted his enormous body out of the water.
Corky* and Orky got along very well and trainers hoped those two would produce calves one day. Although they were watched carefully, Corky surprised everyone when she gave birth to the first calf conceived in captivity. Orky helped the exhausted Corky* and kept the baby at the surface. Due to malnutrition caused by nursing problems, the baby died days after birth. Immediately after, Orky mated again with Corky* and she became pregnant, again the calf died within days. Corky got pregnant 5 more times, but none of these calves survived the birth or the days after.
In 1987, Marineland was sold to SeaWorld San Diego and the orcas were moved to Sea World. It was here that Orky met new females, Kenau*, Kandu V* and Knootka*. Soon after his arrival Orky mated with Kandu* and Kenau* and both became pregnant. Unfortunately Orky became ill in 1988 and lost about 4,000 lbs.
On September 23, Kandu* gave birth to a healthy calf and sadly Orky died 3 days after his daugther's birth. In honour of him, she was named Orkid, "Orky's Kid".
Orky* died the following year, leaving Orky II and Corky* alone, who had began to participate in shows by then. By the end of the year Marineland purchased 3 other orcas, 2 females and a male; all of them were hold in the back pool until they got used to their new environment. The youngest female, called Patches* and was one of the first ones to meet Corky* and Orky II*.
When Corky* died, Orky II was joined by the other female called Corky II. Both of them performed during shows and were occasionally joined by the male, Kenny* or Patches* the female who resided in the back tanks. After their deaths in 1972 and 1971 respectively, Corky II and Orky II kept being the main performers.
Orky was described as a moody and intelligent whale. He had his times and when he wanted to, he used to test his trainers, especially the new ones. His eyes used to open wide with an apparent blood eye colouring. Due to his personality, experienced trainers didn't reward him for poor behaviours and signalled him again to repeat the behaviour. When he got too emotional, he was often ignored and trainers let him do what he wanted. Despite his temperamental attitude, he was a great performer and always lifted his enormous body out of the water.
Corky* and Orky got along very well and trainers hoped those two would produce calves one day. Although they were watched carefully, Corky surprised everyone when she gave birth to the first calf conceived in captivity. Orky helped the exhausted Corky* and kept the baby at the surface. Due to malnutrition caused by nursing problems, the baby died days after birth. Immediately after, Orky mated again with Corky* and she became pregnant, again the calf died within days. Corky got pregnant 5 more times, but none of these calves survived the birth or the days after.
In 1987, Marineland was sold to SeaWorld San Diego and the orcas were moved to Sea World. It was here that Orky met new females, Kenau*, Kandu V* and Knootka*. Soon after his arrival Orky mated with Kandu* and Kenau* and both became pregnant. Unfortunately Orky became ill in 1988 and lost about 4,000 lbs.
On September 23, Kandu* gave birth to a healthy calf and sadly Orky died 3 days after his daugther's birth. In honour of him, she was named Orkid, "Orky's Kid".
Name Meaning & Blood
Type:- Orky was derived from
"Orca"
- Pronunciation of Orky: OR-kee
- Blood Type: 100% Northern Resident
- Pronunciation of Orky: OR-kee
- Blood Type: 100% Northern Resident
Family:It
is believed that Orky originates from the A5 clan in the Northern
Resident Orca community.and
the only family we know is his captive family:
| Offspring: |
1977
MLP-OO-B7701* 1978 Spooky* 1980 MLP-OO-U8001 1982 Kiva* 1985 MLP-OO-B8501* 1986 MLP-OO-U8601 1987 MLP-OO-U8701 1988 Orkid Kayla |
| Grand Offspring | Halyn* |
Transfers: | Pender Harbour | April 26 1968 - May 13, 1968 |
| Marineland of the Pacific | May 13, 1968 - January 21, 1987 |
| SeaWorld San Diego | January 21, 1987 - September 26, 1988 |
