Nearly four decades ago, the company pledged not to receive any wild-caught orcas. That pledge, along with the 2016 one to end breeding, means the current 20 orcas in SeaWorld's care will be the last ones that park, and likely the nation, will see.
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SeaWorld says it will keep its remaining orcas until they die—which for some could be decades from now—but that it will turn its attention to natural orca encounters and programs that emphasize orca enrichment, exercise and overall health, rather than theatrical shows.
At approximately the age of four, Corky was captured from Pender Harbour off the coast of British Columbia on December 11, 1969. She has lived at SeaWorld San Diego in San Diego, California since 1987. As of 2023, she is the oldest and longest kept captive orca.
That fact stems not only from the world-class care they are provided with but the love and affection they receive on a daily basis from a whole host of passionate trainers. Well there you have it. By the Dodo's own deduction, SeaWorld's whales are loved, happy and have a great relationship with their trainers.
The specialists who cared for her at SeaWorld are heartbroken. The cause of death will not be known until the results of a post-mortem examination are complete. The examination may take two weeks to complete, according to SeaWorld. Amaya, whose name means night rain, was the youngest orca at SeaWorld.
In an attempt to save face—and after California refused to allow it to build new orca tanks, SeaWorld agreed to stop breeding the animals. It began to distance itself from the controversy by moving away from using the “Shamu” name.
Since Blackfish's release, what has happened to orcas at SeaWorld? Seven orcas have died at SeaWorld parks since 2013. Unna, Kasatka, Kyara, Kayla, Amaya, Nakai, and Tilikum all died in the abusement park's small tanks.
Tilikum was estimated to be about 36 years old at the time of his death. He was brought to SeaWorld after Canada's Sealand of the Pacific closed in 1992. He had been at the amusement park ever since.