Shamu
Shamu was the fourth killer whale (orca) ever captured (the second female)[1] and was the third orca ever displayed in a public exhibit. She was the first orca to survive more than 13 months in captivity and was the star of a very popular killer whale show at SeaWorld San Diego in the mid - late 1960s. After her death in 1971, the name Shamu continued to be used in SeaWorld "Shamu" orca shows for different killer whales in different SeaWorld parks.
[edit] History
Shamu represents the first successful intentional live-capture of a healthy orca. Three previous orca captures (including Moby Doll and Namu) had been more opportunistic.[2] The way Shamu got her name was from Namu, She+Namu=Shamu.[citation needed] The very young (14 foot / 4.25m, 2000 lb / 900 kg) Southern Resident orca Shamu was captured by Ted Griffin in Puget Sound in October, 1965 to be a companion for the orca Namu at Griffin's Seattle public aquarium.[3][4][5] But the new orca was soon leased to and then purchased by SeaWorld in San Diego in December 1965.[3] She was retired from performing after an incident in which she grabbed and refused to release the leg of a female SeaWorld employee who was riding her as part of a filmed publicity event.[6]
[edit] References
- ^ "A listing of dolphin/whale captures..." at pbs.org
- ^ "Stories of Captive Killer Whales," PBS link
- ^ a b "SeaWorld Investigation: Secrets Below the Surface". KGTV San Diego. http://www.10news.com/news/13334667/detail.html. Retrieved 2008-05-05.
- ^ "The Killer in the Pool", Zimmermann, Tim, Outside Magazine, 2010 July Retrieved 2010 July 12
- ^ "Granny's Struggle: A black and white gold rush is on", Lyke, M. L., Seattle Post-Intelligencer 2006 October 11 Retrieved 2010 July 12
- ^ Eckis v. Sea World Corp. [Civ. No. 14458. Court of Appeals of California, Fourth Appellate District, Division One. November 19, 1976.] [64 Cal. App. 3d 1] (justia.com link)
