Kasatka

Kasatka (1976 – August 15, 2017) was a wild caught female orca who lived at SeaWorld San Diego.

For the helicopter known as Kasatka, see Kamov Ka-60.
Kasatka
Kasatka performing "The Shamu Adventure" on July 5, 2004. The stage at Shamu Stadium has since been redesigned to accommodate the new "One Ocean" show.
Born1976
DiedAugust 15, 2017(2017-08-15) (aged 40–41)
Years active1978 - 2017
Known forPerformer of the Shamu show.

She was captured off the coast of Iceland on October 26, 1978, at the age of less than two years.[1] She was estimated to be born around late 1976. Her name probably comes from the Russian word Kasatka (Russian: Косатка), a generic name for orcas. She was 17.7 ft (5.4 m) long and weighed 4,850 lb (2,200 kg) at time of death.[2]

Kasatka showed occasional aggression to humans. In 1993, she tried to bite trainer Ken Peters during a show, and again in 1999.[3] On November 30, 2006, Kasatka grabbed Peters again and dragged him underwater twice during their show.[4] Peters survived with minor injuries.[5]

After suffering incurable pneumonia from 2008–17, Kasatka was euthanized at age 40 on August 15, 2017.[6]

Offspring

Kasatka was the matriarch of the San Diego Orca Seaworld family.[6] She was the first captive cetacean to successively receive artificial insemination, according to John Hargrove, a trainer there.[7][8]

She bore two daughters and two sons, resulting in 6 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren by the time of her death:

  • Takara (born 1991), female (SeaWorld San Antonio)[9]
    • Kohana (born May 3, 2002), female (Loro Parque)[10]
      • Adán (born October 13, 2010), male (Loro Parque)
      • Victoria ("Vicky") (August 3, 2012 – June 16, 2013), female (Loro Parque)
    • Trua (November 23, 2005), male (SeaWorld Orlando)[11][10]
    • Sakari (January 7, 2010), female (SeaWorld San Antonio)[12]
    • Kamea (December 6, 2013), female (SeaWorld San Antonio)[13]
    • Kyara (April 19, 2017 – July 24, 2017), female (SeaWorld San Antonio)[14]
  • Nakai (born September 1, 2001), male (Seaworld San Diego); first orca conceived by artificial insemination[15]
  • Kalia[16] (born December 21, 2004), female (SeaWorld San Diego)[17]
    • Amaya (born December 2, 2014), female (SeaWorld San Diego)[18][16]
  • Makani (born February 14, 2013), male (SeaWorld San Diego)[19]

See also

References
  1. "How Orky and Kasatka almost sank Seaworld". counterpunch.org. February 26, 2010. Retrieved 27 January 2016.
  2. "Kasatka". seaworldcares.com.
  3. Repard, Pauline (2006-11-30). "Killer whale bites trainer, takes him to tank bottom". SignOnSanDiego.com. Archived from the original on 2009-05-01.
  4. Kirby, David (July 24, 2012). "Near Death At SeaWorld: Worldwide Exclusive Video". Huffington Post.
  5. "Killer whale attacks Sea World trainer". CNN.com. November 30, 2006.
  6. "Kasatka". seaworld.com. Seaworld.
  7. Hargrove, John (22 March 2016). "I trained killer whales at SeaWorld for 12 years. Here's why I quit". Vox. Retrieved 25 February 2019.
  8. Robeck, T.R.; Steinman, K.J.; Gearhart, S.; Reidarson, T.R.; McBain, J.F.; Monfort, S.L. (1 August 2004). "Reproductive Physiology and Development of Artificial Insemination Technology in Killer Whales (Orcinus orca)1". Biology of Reproduction. 71 (2): 650–660. doi:10.1095/biolreprod.104.027961. Retrieved 25 February 2019.
  9. Rodriguez, Monica (March 21, 1991). "Sea World Proudly Spouts Off News That Killer Whale Kasatka Is Pregnant". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved August 16, 2017.
  10. Newkirk, Ingrid (February 23, 2017). "OpEd: SeaWorld was right to stop breeding orcas, but it should go further". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved August 16, 2017.
  11. Michelle. "Trua". seaworldcares.com. SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment. Retrieved August 16, 2017.
  12. "Sakari". seaworldcares.com. SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment.
  13. "Kamea". seaworldcares.com. SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment.
  14. "Kyara obit". seaworldcares.com. SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment.
  15. Autumn. "Nakai". seaworldcares.com. Retrieved August 16, 2017.
  16. Taylor, Jennicca (December 2, 2014). "Kalia's Calf is Born!". insideseaworld.com. SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment. Retrieved August 16, 2017.
  17. Mike. "Kalia". seaworldcares.com. SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment. Retrieved August 16, 2017.
  18. "Amaya". seaworldcares.com. SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment. Retrieved August 16, 2017.
  19. Katey. "Makani". seaworldcares.com. SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment. Retrieved August 16, 2017.


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