Captive Orca Population

Status
Not open for further replies.
Some articles are stating kidney failure, as well as her signs of discomfort starting early this week and not just two days before she passed. In 2021 it was reported on a USDA inspection that she was not receiving enough food and thus also water, and her bloodwork was abnormal - potentially a factor in this situation in addition to age.
It's a real shame as when you think about it; Seaworld could've easily provided her with these things. It's disappointing that MSQ failed to take action on Lolita sooner. It's obvious that Lolita has been quite sick for a while now. Even though they had 'world leading vets' caring for her, it was a shame we didn't see any cooperation with Seaworld, even on that level.
 
Even though they had 'world leading vets' caring for her, it was a shame we didn't see any cooperation with Seaworld, even on that level.

Fwiw, the vets were the ones that were standing up for her and all the cetaceans per the USDA reports - the curators and head trainers were ignoring their recommendations and concerns and even going behind their backs. The vets probably would have appreciated help from SeaWorld, but I doubt the rest of management would have allowed it sadly.
 
Kamogawa news - Per ceta twitter, rumor appears to be going round that Lovey is pregnant. If true, this would be Kamogawa's first calf in more than a decade (since Lovey's last offspring was born - Luna).

This would also be an AI conceived calf meaning that Kamogawa have indeed collaborated with Wuxi for an AI program as previously planned.

This would give Kamogawa five orcas and would align with plans to send some over to Suma in the coming years.

Zhengzhou Haichang Ocean Park- This facility has come up as potential new holder being an aquarium that is currently under construction. They are Shanghai's sister park, meaning they are expected to be importing Sean and Cody from Shanghai.
 
Last edited:
Very sad about Toki... I will always think that if they had send her to SeaWorld the moment they announce the sea pen plan she would have spend the last months of her life in a bigger place with other orcas. But yeah, I guess dreaming about a sea pen just looked better.

I hope they transfer the body to her native waters as respect for the Lummi nation
 
Very sad about Toki... I will always think that if they had send her to SeaWorld the moment they announce the sea pen plan she would have spend the last months of her life in a bigger place with other orcas. But yeah, I guess dreaming about a sea pen just looked better.

I hope they transfer the body to her native waters as respect for the Lummi nation
 
Kamogawa news - Per ceta twitter, rumor appears to be going round that Lovey is pregnant. If true, this would be Kamogawa's first calf in more than a decade (since Lovey's last offspring was born - Luna).

This would also be an AI conceived calf meaning that Kamogawa have indeed collaborated with Wuxi for an AI program as previously planned.

This would give Kamogawa five orcas and would align with plans to send some over to Suma in the coming years.

Zhengzhou Haichang Ocean Park- This facility has come up as potential new holder being an aquarium that is currently under construction. They are Shanghai's sister park, meaning they are expected to be importing Sean and Cody from Shanghai.
Does Kamogawa have any plans of expanding their orca complex? Already it is on the small side for four whales but five plus whales seems more than they can handle?

Also on another note, Earth at Port of Nagoya has been showing aggressive behavior recently as he is maturing. Due to the poorly managed pod structure at Nagoya, Earth is kept by himself which does not allow him to demonstrate behavior that you would typically expect from a young adult killer whale. With no bull to practice sexual behavior with and the separation from the females, he will often ram the glass or gates as this frustration builds up. I'm hoping that Suma will import some males and bring Earth over so he can live in a more natural pod with older males to learn from and interact with.
 
Does Kamogawa have any plans of expanding their orca complex? Already it is on the small side for four whales but five plus whales seems more than they can handle?

Also on another note, Earth at Port of Nagoya has been showing aggressive behavior recently as he is maturing. Due to the poorly managed pod structure at Nagoya, Earth is kept by himself which does not allow him to demonstrate behavior that you would typically expect from a young adult killer whale. With no bull to practice sexual behavior with and the separation from the females, he will often ram the glass or gates as this frustration builds up. I'm hoping that Suma will import some males and bring Earth over so he can live in a more natural pod with older males to learn from and interact with.
I don't believe so, no. Kamogawa plans to export two of their females to Suma very soon which is presumbly why they're allowing Lovey to breed again now. Although in the mean time the exhibit will be very crowded as it is; it's certainly not much of a big exhibit for one or two of them imo.

Regarding Earth, his future will probably be at Nagoya. They have a much bigger complex than Kamogawa so could presumably acquire some more whales if needed. It's a big shame he isn't allowed any time with Stella and Lynn. If the french orcas are indeed going to be sent to Japan, I don't see why one or two of the males shouldn't be sent to Nagoya to give Earth company.
 
Do we know if the transfer from Marineland Antibes to Japan is 100% confirm? Where does this info comes from? I have read about the plan in different websites but its all like a copy paste thing and no official message from the park itself or parques reunidos.

And what you think marineland Antibes would do with their orcas enclosure if they are gone? It would be a big and cool place for dolphins as it can give a pretty nice view of them from out and under water... But I guess they would just renew the whole place for some different attraction or they will just keep it abandon due to lack of money
 
I have read on another forum that is confirmed, but apparently from internal sources and nothing official or public from the park. The press release they did few months ago was pretty ambiguous so personally I think is true, and they just don´t want to feed more bad feedback towards them.
 
I'm curious and since the OP is outdated, how many collections globally currently keep orca?
 
I have read on another forum that is confirmed, but apparently from internal sources and nothing official or public from the park. The press release they did few months ago was pretty ambiguous so personally I think is true, and they just don´t want to feed more bad feedback towards them.
I heard the move was scheduled for later this year, so should be soon but we’ll have to wait and see. It will be exciting to see what Suma decide to do with their orcas; sending Wikie and Keijo to Nagoya makes sense for breeding with Earth and Lynn. Suma could then receive Ran and Luna to breed with Inouk and Moana.

Something along the lines of that would work; or Suma could just simply import all four French orcas, receive two from Kamogawa and then go from there but from the looks of it their complex would be quite small for six orcas plus calves.
 
I'm curious and since the OP is outdated, how many collections globally currently keep orca?

I will happily post an updated population list tomorrow for you!
Off the top of my head;

South America:

Mundo Marino:
1.0 Kshamenk (1989) Wild

North America:

SeaWorld San Diego:
1.0 Ulises (1979) Wild
1.0 Keet (02/02/1993) Kotar x Kalina
1.0 Ikaika (25/08/2002) Tilikum x Katina
1.0 Makani (14/02/2013) Kshamenk x Kasatka
0.1 Corky (1966) Wild
0.1 Orkid (23/09/1988) Orky x Kandu V
0.1 Shouka (25/02/1993) Kim 2 x Sharkane
0.1 Kalia (21/12/2004) Keet x Kasatka

SeaWorld Orlando:
1.0 Trua (23/11/2005) Taku x Takara
1.0 Makaio (09/10/2010) Tilikum x Katina
0.1 Katina (1976) Wild
0.1 Nalani (18/09/2006) Taku x Katina
0.1 Malia (12/03/2007) Tilikum x Taima

SeaWorld San Antonio:
1.0 Kyuquot (24/12/1991) Tilikum x Haida 2
1.0 Tuar (22/06/1999) Tilikum x Kalina
0.1 Takara (09/07/1991) Kotar x Kasatka
0.1 Sakari (07/01/2010) Tilikum x Takara
0.1 Kamea (06/12/2013) Kshamenk x Takara

Europe:

Loro Parque:
1.0 Keto (17/06/1995) Kotar x Kalina
1.0 Tekoa (08/11/2000) Tilikum x Taima
1.0 Adan (13/10/2010) Keto x Kohana
0.1 Morgan (2007)

Marineland Antibes:
1.0 Inouk (23/02/1999) Kim 2 x Sharkane
1.0 Moana (16/03/2011) Ulises x Wikie
1.0 Keijo (20/11/2013) Inouk x Wikie
0.1 Wikie (01/06/2001) Kim 2 x Sharkane

Asia:

Moskavarium:
0.1 Naja (2010) Wild

Chimelong:
*10 confirmed Orcas - names, ages not officially confirmed

Shanghai Haichang Ocean Park:
1.0 Dylan (2004) Wild
1.0 Sean (2012) Wild
1.0 Cody (10/09/2021) Dylan x Cookie
0.1 Cookie (2012) Wild
0.1 Dora (2011) Wild

Wuxi:
1.0 Unknown (?) Wild
1.0 Unknown (?) Wild

Kamogawa:
0.1 Lovey (11/01/1998) Bingo x Stella
0.1 Lara (08/02/2001) Bingo x Stella
0.1 Ran (25/02/2006) Bingo x Stella
0.1 Luna (19/07/2012) Oscar x Lovey

Port of Nagoya:
0.1 Stella (1986) Wild
1.0 Earth (13/10/2008) Oscar x Lovey
0.1 Lynn (13/11/2012) Bingo x Stella
 
I heard the move was scheduled for later this year, so should be soon but we’ll have to wait and see.

Yeah I read the same. It sucks for me as I was planning to go to Marineland Antibes for the first time next year just for the orcas but if they are not gonna be there I won't go then anyways, time will say...
 
Yeah I read the same. It sucks for me as I was planning to go to Marineland Antibes for the first time next year just for the orcas but if they are not gonna be there I won't go then anyways, time will say...
Considering we haven’t heard a lot officially from them I wouldn’t be surprised if they’re still there as of next year. Hopefully you get to see them in France; otherwise a visit to Japan to see their new pod might potentially be an even better experience!
 
Off the top of my head;

South America:

Mundo Marino:
1.0 Kshamenk (1989) Wild

North America:

SeaWorld San Diego:
1.0 Ulises (1979) Wild
1.0 Keet (02/02/1993) Kotar x Kalina
1.0 Ikaika (25/08/2002) Tilikum x Katina
1.0 Makani (14/02/2013) Kshamenk x Kasatka
0.1 Corky (1966) Wild
0.1 Orkid (23/09/1988) Orky x Kandu V
0.1 Shouka (25/02/1993) Kim 2 x Sharkane
0.1 Kalia (21/12/2004) Keet x Kasatka

SeaWorld Orlando:
1.0 Trua (23/11/2005) Taku x Takara
1.0 Makaio (09/10/2010) Tilikum x Katina
0.1 Katina (1976) Wild
0.1 Nalani (18/09/2006) Taku x Katina
0.1 Malia (12/03/2007) Tilikum x Taima

SeaWorld San Antonio:
1.0 Kyuquot (24/12/1991) Tilikum x Haida 2
1.0 Tuar (22/06/1999) Tilikum x Kalina
0.1 Takara (09/07/1991) Kotar x Kasatka
0.1 Sakari (07/01/2010) Tilikum x Takara
0.1 Kamea (06/12/2013) Kshamenk x Takara

Europe:

Loro Parque:
1.0 Keto (17/06/1995) Kotar x Kalina
1.0 Tekoa (08/11/2000) Tilikum x Taima
1.0 Adan (13/10/2010) Keto x Kohana
0.1 Morgan (2007)

Marineland Antibes:
1.0 Inouk (23/02/1999) Kim 2 x Sharkane
1.0 Moana (16/03/2011) Ulises x Wikie
1.0 Keijo (20/11/2013) Inouk x Wikie
0.1 Wikie (01/06/2001) Kim 2 x Sharkane

Asia:

Moskavarium:
0.1 Naja (2010) Wild

Chimelong:
*10 confirmed Orcas - names, ages not officially confirmed

Shanghai Haichang Ocean Park:
1.0 Dylan (2004) Wild
1.0 Sean (2012) Wild
1.0 Cody (10/09/2021) Dylan x Cookie
0.1 Cookie (2012) Wild
0.1 Dora (2011) Wild

Wuxi:
1.0 Unknown (?) Wild
1.0 Unknown (?) Wild

Kamogawa:
0.1 Lovey (11/01/1998) Bingo x Stella
0.1 Lara (08/02/2001) Bingo x Stella
0.1 Ran (25/02/2006) Bingo x Stella
0.1 Luna (19/07/2012) Oscar x Lovey

Port of Nagoya:
0.1 Stella (1986) Wild
1.0 Earth (13/10/2008) Oscar x Lovey
0.1 Lynn (13/11/2012) Bingo x Stella
Looks Great! Only thing missing are the two females at SunAsia Beluga Whale World. The names and genders of the Chimelong Pod have been figured out. Just birthdays are currently being figured out. Here is what we know at the moment:

Chimelong Ocean Kingdom - Zhuhai, China (5.4.3) 12
1.0 Orpheus (Wild x Wild) 2007-00-00 in the Sea of Okhotsk (Transient)
1.0 Tyson (Wild x Wild) 0000-00-00 in the Sea of Okhotsk (Transient)
1.0 Cuī (Wild x Wild) 0000-00-00 in the Sea of Okhotsk (Transient)
1.0 Er (Wild x Wild) 0000-00-00 in the Sea of Okhotsk (Transient)
1.0 Meng Meng/Méngméng (Wild x Wild) 0000-00-00 in the Sea of Okhotsk (Transient)
0.1 Daphne/Shizú (Wild x Wild) 0000-00-00 in the Sea of Okhotsk (Transient)
0.1 Grace/Tíngzhǐ (Wild x Wild) 2010-00-00 in the Sea of Okhotsk (Transient)
0.1 Litla/Xiǎngkū (Wild x Wild) 0000-00-00 in the Sea of Okhotsk (Transient)
0.1 Nukka/Yǎohé (Wild x Wild) 0000-00-00 in the Sea of Okhotsk (Transient)
0.0.1 Unknown (Unknown x Unknown) 2019-00-00 at Chimelong Ocean Kingdom (Transient)
0.0.1 Unknown (Unknown x Unknown) 2021-00-00 at Chimelong Ocean Kingdom (Transient)
0.0.1 Unknown (Unknown x Unknown) 2023-00-00 at Chimelong Ocean Kingdom (Transient)
 
Looks Great! Only thing missing are the two females at SunAsia Beluga Whale World. The names and genders of the Chimelong Pod have been figured out. Just birthdays are currently being figured out. Here is what we know at the moment:

Chimelong Ocean Kingdom - Zhuhai, China (5.4.3) 12
1.0 Orpheus (Wild x Wild) 2007-00-00 in the Sea of Okhotsk (Transient)
1.0 Tyson (Wild x Wild) 0000-00-00 in the Sea of Okhotsk (Transient)
1.0 Cuī (Wild x Wild) 0000-00-00 in the Sea of Okhotsk (Transient)
1.0 Er (Wild x Wild) 0000-00-00 in the Sea of Okhotsk (Transient)
1.0 Meng Meng/Méngméng (Wild x Wild) 0000-00-00 in the Sea of Okhotsk (Transient)
0.1 Daphne/Shizú (Wild x Wild) 0000-00-00 in the Sea of Okhotsk (Transient)
0.1 Grace/Tíngzhǐ (Wild x Wild) 2010-00-00 in the Sea of Okhotsk (Transient)
0.1 Litla/Xiǎngkū (Wild x Wild) 0000-00-00 in the Sea of Okhotsk (Transient)
0.1 Nukka/Yǎohé (Wild x Wild) 0000-00-00 in the Sea of Okhotsk (Transient)
0.0.1 Unknown (Unknown x Unknown) 2019-00-00 at Chimelong Ocean Kingdom (Transient)
0.0.1 Unknown (Unknown x Unknown) 2021-00-00 at Chimelong Ocean Kingdom (Transient)
0.0.1 Unknown (Unknown x Unknown) 2023-00-00 at Chimelong Ocean Kingdom (Transient)
Thank you! Where has this been confirmed? As far as I know, this was just speculation and so far (from images), we've only confirmed six at most are currently there; including one possible older female calf.
 
Thank you! Where has this been confirmed? As far as I know, this was just speculation and so far (from images), we've only confirmed six at most are currently there; including one possible older female calf.
I was sent this information by a friend in Shanghai unsure as to where he obtained it from though.
 
Recent Orca Updates:

Shanghai:

Dora looks to be heavily pregnant based on recent photos. Taking into account her current size compared to Cookie's during her last pregnancy, she should be due very very soon.

Chimelong:
Chimelong have confirmed they have twelve orcas. The best result; as all original nine orcas are still alive and three calves have since been born. The three calves have been named; the first calf born is named Yilong, the second is named Loki and the third is named Katniss.

Loki was hand raised by trainers and Katniss is referred to as a second child, meaning she's obviously the younger sibling to one of the older two (presumbly Yilong).

Katniss is likely a girl based on her name. Same goes for Loki, who's probably a male. Yilong is a gender neutral name though so we will have to wait for confirmation there.

In regards to ages, they haven't been confirmed, but based on what's been rumored, Yilong is almost four years old (they were born in October 2019); Loki is two (he was supposedly born in December of 2020) and Katniss is one (supposedly born in February of 2022).

There's also mention from the China Cetacean Alliance that one of the first two calves (Yilong or Loki) was conceived via AI; with the other being conceived naturally. Katniss's conception is unknown. Presumably this calf in question is Loki; and if he was indeed conceived through AI, there are certainly plenty of candidates to consider; Shanghai's males, Nord at Moskavarium, or perhaps most likely, Earth at Nagoya.
 
More footage has been posted to Weibo of the Chimelong "Spaceship". One of these videos shows a new grouping of at least seven individuals, including an adult male and a young calf. It will be interesting to see whether or not they can keep them all together or whether they have groupings they stick to. I believe this is the case at Seaworld San Diego since Kasatka died? I am aware that Corky and Ulises do not get along and were not placed together if Kasatka was not also in the same tank, I am not sure if this is still the case, I am pretty sure they are also split into smaller groupings most of the time? Would also be interesting to see what the social structure looks like as off the top of my head I believe this is the first time males have outnumbered females in a collection? I think the closest reference point would again be San Diego but I believe they mostly kept an almost even mix of males to females.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top