(ラン)

Ran was the last orca to be captured off Iceland in October 1989. Along with Sharkan*, Ai* and Tanouk*, she went to Saedyrasafnid Aquarium. Usually orcas are immediately bought by marine parks and dolphinariums, but authorization for their transfers was not given. All four remained at the aquarium unti January 1990, when Ran and Ai moved to Nanki Shirahama Adventure World meeting male Goro* and female Ruka*. All four got along well and the newcomers settled in quickly. Sadly Ai died in 1995. The park purchased more orcas from the "Taiji capture" in 1997, a female (OO-C-9704), a male (OO-C-9705) and male Kyu arrived in Spring 1997. Within months they died, except for Kyu who survived but was kept in back pools until 1999. He began to perform during shows and all four orcas became star performers. In 2000 Ruka suddenly died. Ran took over the role as a dominant female and in 2003, she mated with Kyu and gave birth to her first calf on August 26, 2004. Unfortunately the calf, which was assumed to be a female, was born premature and had a broken skull. It died 2 days after the birth. Ran, who was still exhausted from the birth, suffered from blood poisoning and an acute gastritis. She also caught pneumonia from micro-organisms and died on August 29, 2004.  

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