Shamu

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Kasatka performing "The Shamu Adventure". The stage at Shamu Stadium has since been redesigned to accommodate the new "Believe" show. (July 5, 2004)

Kayla appears to "hover" over water after launching a trainer into the air. The new "Believe" stage is seen in the background. (June 2007)

Corky II on a slideout

Nakai jump

Shamu is the stage name of SeaWorld's iconic Orca (killer whale) show, which is shared by numerous adult male or female orcas at the SeaWorld parks. Shamu's popular performances are presented along with Baby Shamu and Grandbaby Shamu in 7-million-gallon tanks at the following SeaWorld parks:

• SeaWorld Orlando in Florida
• SeaWorld San Diego in California
• SeaWorld San Antonio in Texas

A fourth SeaWorld park, SeaWorld Ohio, closed in 2001.

[edit] History

The name Shamu means "friend of Namu" or "She-Namu" and was given to the first female orca ever captured.^[1] She was intended to be a companion for the orca Namu at a Seattle public aquarium, but the orcas experienced social conflicts and Shamu was eventually leased to and then purchased by SeaWorld San Diego. She died on August 29, 1971.^[2]

Today, "Shamu," "Namu," and "Ramu" are trademarked stage names given to all of the orcas residing within the SeaWorld parks.^[3] The first Baby Shamu is named Kalina. She is the first surviving orca born in captivity on September 26, 1985.^[3] Notably, ten orca calves had been born in captivity before 1985, but five were still born and the others all died within two months of their births.^[3] Kalina's parents, Katina and Winston, were bestowed the names Namu (Katina) and Ramu (Winston). The stage name Grandbaby Shamu was given to Kalina's first calf, which was born on February 2, 1993 - a male named Keet. The first Great Grandbaby Shamu was Keet's first calf, born on December 21, 2004 - a female named Kalia. The first ever calf to be born to captive-bred parents (Kayla and Keet) is a female named Halyn, who was born on October 9, 2005 and died on June 15, 2008.^[4]

[edit] Shows

Orcas perform in Shamu Stadium, which seats 5,500. The Shamu show is the most popular show at SeaWorld, running 20 minutes and showing up to seven times a day. The show highlights both the innate (natural) and learned behaviors of orcas, as well as the relationships SeaWorld trainers have with these animals. According to the official SeaWorld website, people sitting in the first 14 rows "must be prepared to get soaked by Shamu," with water that is chilled to 55° F (13° C).

The show was recently changed at all three SeaWorld parks. The new show, dubbed "Believe," featuring an emotional soundtrack and more trainers than any previous show.

Shamu Shows throughout the years:

Night shows performed during the spring and summer:

[edit] Shamu in popular culture

• The South Park episode "Free Willzyx" marine park announcers tricking the boys into thinking that an orca named "Jambu" can talk, and is an extraterrestrial named "Willzyx".
• In an episode of SpongeBob SquarePants, "The Smoking Peanut", there is a giant oyster named "Clamu".
• In the animated feature film Madagascar, when Melman told Alex that they were in San Diego, Alex got upset that he will be outshone by Shamu.
• In an episode of the animated television series Family Guy, there is a recollection about Lois getting licked in the face by Shamu. An obviously jealous Peter punches the whale and asks Lois, "And how long has this been going on?"
• In the feature film School of Rock, Jack Black's character Dewey Finn mentions Shamu. "He [The Man] kidnapped Shamu and put her in a chlorine tank!"
• George Carlin in his comic routine about seven dirty words explains how amusing it would be to exchange some socially acceptable words with some in that list. One of the examples him back to SeaWorld!"
• In Mind of Mencia, Carlos Mencia mentions in a Judge Carlos skit with the ghost of Johnny Cochran about a 27-year-old man killed in Shamu's tank while naked mentioning a lawsuit brought up by the man's parents. Carlos Mencia implies the possibility that the man was a zoophile and said that Shamu killed him in self defense.
• In the sitcom The New Adventures of Old Christine, Shamu is mentioned in a non-stop conversation involving Barb and Christine over Shamu and her divorced husband.
• In Dumbbell Indemnity, a Simpsons episode, Moe and his girlfriend Renee are riding two killer whales at Sea World on a romantic date, and the killer whale Moe is riding on swims, jumps over the gate, and into the sea, along with Moe.
• In an episode of Scrubs J.D. has a dream about Shamu biting off Shawn's arm
• In a Futurama episode a whale named Moshoo is a take off of Shamu and the whale biologist says "Mooshoo, the educated whale who thinks he's better than you."
• In an episode of Nickelodeon TV show Drake and Josh, Drake comes home with Josh's E-Pal Yooka. Josh asks Drake where he'd been. Drake said, "I took her to see Shamu." Josh says, "You went to SeaWorld without me? That's my place!".
• In one of Jeff Dunham's DVD's, Spark of Insanity, one of Jeff's puppets, Walter, mentions Shamu in one part of his routine where he's talking about his wife.
• Baltimore Orioles TV analyst Jim Palmer referred to former Orioles and now Yankees pitcher Sidney Ponson as Shamu, saying that's what Ponson's former pitching coach Ray Miller had called him.
• In the 2004 film White Chicks one of the girls has a self esteem issue, and points to herself and cries, "Somebody throw Shamu back in the ocean!".
• In the song "Sophisticated Side Ponytail" by Natalie Portman's Shaved Head, the lyrics state, "Do you want to see Shamu with me? Yes I do, I love Shamu!"
• In the Bloodhound Gang song "You're Pretty When I'm Drunk" Shamu is used as a metaphor to refer to Jimmy Pop's girlfriend.
• In the film Blue Streak Miles Logan (Martin Lawrence) calls the police officer at the help desk Shamu.
• In Bewitched film (2005) a spell is cast on Jack and he tells Isabella "Let's go to SeaWorld and make love on the back of a killer whale."
• In an episode of the sitcom "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air", a snobby girl tells Hillary that "she looks like Shamu".
• In an episode of "Saved by the Bell", Lisa advises an obese girl that wearing white would make the girl look like "Shamu at a wedding."
• In an episode of "Two and a Half Men", Charlie remarks toward a police officer that his squad car resembles Shamu.
• In an episode of "Frasier", Martin asks Niles "Shamu jump the tank again?" upon seeing Niles in a neckbrace as a result of his heavily pregnant wife Daphne's violent sleeping habits.
• In an episode of "Gilmore Girls," Lorelai is looking for a man's number from an auction, and tells the person on the phone that in high school his nickname was "Shamu."

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Shamu.com – Shamu's official site