Captive Orca Population

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katinakalinakaterina said:
From the pictures that were released a few years ago from the holding facility, there were only six individuals seen, it is unclear if the other three are still alive or if they are being held in another location, I believe they are supposed to have five males and four females - potentially comprised of the three that were held with Narnia after their capture that she encouraged to accept fish from people - 'Tyson', 'Orpheus' and 'Grace'.
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Hello! Tyson and Orpheus are believed to be the same whale. After his transfer to the breeding center it appears to be that they changed his name from Orpheus to Tyson.
 
Here is an updated list for the captive orca population. There is an estimated 61 individuals in captivity (23.28.10). Zero pregnancies have been announced but it is suspected that a female at Chimelong Ocean Kingdom is pregnant.

Chimelong Ocean Kingdom - Zhuhai, China (1.3.8) 12
1.0 Tyson/Orpheus (Wild x Wild) 2005-00-00 in Sea of Okhotsk, Russia
0.1 Unknown (Wild x Wild) 2006-00-00 in Sea of Okhotsk, Russia
0.1 Grace (Wild x Wild) 2010-00-00 in Sea of Okhotsk, Russia
0.1 Unknown (Wild x Wild) 2012-00-00 in Sea of Okhotsk, Russia
0.0.1 Unknown (Unknown x Unknown) 2019-00-00 at Chimelong Ocean Kingdom
0.0.1 Unknown (Unknown x Unknown) 2021-00-00 at Chimelong Ocean Kingdom
0.0.1 Unknown (Wild x Wild) 0000-00-00 in Sea of Okhotsk, Russia
0.0.1 Unknown (Wild x Wild) 0000-00-00 in Sea of Okhotsk, Russia
0.0.1 Unknown (Wild x Wild) 0000-00-00 in Sea of Okhotsk, Russia
0.0.1 Unknown (Wild x Wild) 0000-00-00 in Sea of Okhotsk, Russia
0.0.1 Unknown (Wild x Wild) 0000-00-00 in Sea of Okhotsk, Russia

Shanghai Haichang Ocean Park - Shanghai, China (3.2) 5
1.0 Pànghǔ/Dillon (Wild x Wild) 2009-00-00 in Sea of Okhotsk, Russia
0.1 Dora (Wild x Wild) 2011-00-00 in Sea of Okhotsk, Russia
1.0 Xiàoēn/Shawn (Wild x Wild) 2012-00-00 in Sea of Okhotsk, Russia
0.1 Cookie (Wild x Wild) 2012-00-00 in Sea of Okhotsk, Russia
1.0 Cody/Pàngdòudīng (Pànghǔ x Cookie) 2021-09-10 at Shanghai Haichang Ocean Park

Wuxi Changqiao Ocean Kingdom - Wuxi, China (2.0) 2
1.0 Unknown (Wild x Wild) 0000-00-00 in Sea of Okhotsk, Russia
1.0 Unknown (Wild x Wild) 0000-00-00 in Sea of Okhotsk, Russia

SunAsia Beluga Whale World - Dalian, China (0.2) 2
0.1 Unknown (Wild x Wild) 0000-00-00 in Sea of Okhotsk, Russia
0.1 Unknown (Wild x Wild) 0000-00-00 in Sea of Okhotsk, Russia

Kamogawa Sea World - Kamogawa, Japan (0.4) 4
0.1 Lovey (Bingo x Stella) 1998-01-11 at Kamogawa Sea World
0.1 Lara (Bingo x Stella) 2001-02-08 at Kamogawa Sea World
0.1 Ran (Bingo x Stella) 2006-02-25 at Kamogawa Sea World
0.1 Luna (Oscar x Lovey) 2012-07-13 at Kamogawa Sea World

Port of Nagoya Public Aquarium - Nagoya, Japan (1.2) 3
0.1 Stella (Wild x Wild) 1986-00-00 in Seyðisfjörður, Iceland
1.0 Earth (Oscar x Lovey) 2008-10-13 at Kamogawa Sea World
0.1 Lynn (Bingo x Stella) 2012-11-13 at Port of Nagoya Public Aquarium

Moskavirum - Moscow, Russia (1.1) 2
1.0 Nord (Wild x Wild) 2008-00-00 in Sea of Okhotsk, Russia
0.1 Juliet/Naja (Wild x Wild) 2010-00-00 in Sea of Okhotsk, Russia

Loro Parque - Puerto de la Cruz, Canary Islands, Spain (3.1) 4
1.0 Keto (Kotar x Kalina) 1995-06-17 at SeaWorld Orlando
1.0 Tekoa (Tilikum x Taima) 2000-11-08 at SeaWorld Orlando
0.1 Morgan (Wild x Wild) 2007-00-00 in Wadden Sea, Netherlands
1.0 Adán (Keto x Kohana) 2010-10-13 at Loro Parque

Marineland Antibes - Antibes, France (3.1) 4
1.0 Inouk (Kim x Sharkane) 1999-02-23 at Marineland Antibes
0.1 Wikie (Kim x Sharkane) 2001-06-01 at Marineland Antibes
1.0 Moana (Ulises x Wikie) 2011-03-16 at Marineland Antibes
1.0 Keijo (Valentin x Wikie) 2013-11-20 at Marineland Antibes

Mundo Marino - Buenos Aires, Argentina (1.0) 1
1.0 Kshamenk (Wild x Wild) 1988-00-00 in Samborombón Bay, Argentina

SeaWorld Orlando - Orlando, Florida, USA (2.3) 5
0.1 Katina (Wild x Wild) 1976-00-00 in Skardsfjara, Iceland
1.0 Trua (Taku x Takara) 2005-11-23 at SeaWorld Orlando
0.1 Nalani (Taku x Katina) 2006-09-18 at SeaWorld Orlando
0.1 Malia (Tilikum x Tamia) 2007-03-12 at SeaWorld Orlando
1.0 Makio (Tilikum x Katina) 2010-10-09 at SeaWorld Orlando

SeaWorld San Diego - San Diego, California, USA (4.4) 8
0.1 Corky (Wild x Wild) 1966-00-00 in Pender Harbor, British Columbia, Canada
1.0 Ulises (Wild x Wild) 1977-00-00 in Reyðarfjörður, Iceland
0.1 Orkid (Orky x Kandu) 1988-09-23 at SeaWorld San Diego
1.0 Keet (Kotar x Kalina) 1993-02-02 at SeaWorld San Antonio
0.1 Shouka (Kim x Sharkane) 1993-02-25 at Marineland Antibes
1.0 Ikaika (Tilikum x Katina) 2002-08-25 at SeaWorld Orlando
0.1 Kalia (Keet x Kataska) 2004-12-21 at SeaWorld San Diego
1.0 Makani (Kshamenk x Kataska) 2013-02-14 at SeaWorld San Diego

SeaWorld San Antonio - San Antonio, Texas, USA (2.3) 5
0.1 Takara (Kotar x Kataska) 1991-07-09 at SeaWorld San Diego
1.0 Kyuquot (Tilikum x Haida) 1991-12-24 at Sealand of the Pacific
1.0 Tuar (Tilikum x Kalina) 1999-06-22 at SeaWorld Orlando
0.1 Sakari (Tilikum x Takara) 2010-01-07 at SeaWorld San Antonio
0.1 Kamea (Kshamenk x Takara) 2013-12-06 at SeaWorld San Antonio

Miami Seaquarium - Miami, Florida, USA (0.1) 1
0.1 Tokitae/Lolita (Wild x Wild) 1966-00-00 in Penn Cove, Whidbey Island, Washington State, USA

MarineLand Canada - Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada (0.1) 1
0.1 Kiska (Wild x Wild) 1766-00-00 in Ingólfshöfði, Iceland

Unknown Location/Status - Russia (0.0.2) 2
0.0.1 Unknown (Wild x Wild) 0000-00-00 in Sea of Okhotsk, Russia
0.0.1 Unknown (Wild x Wild) 0000-00-00 in Sea of Okhotsk, Russia
 
Jonathan Petersson said:
1.0 Unknown (Wild x Wild) 0000-00-00 in Sea of Okhotsk, Russia
1.0 Unknown (Wild x Wild) 0000-00-00 in Sea of Okhotsk, Russia
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Interesting that they have two males; they plan to work with Kanagowa on breeding so this makes sense as Kanagowa have four females. Hopefully they can undertake AI soon.

Jonathan Petersson said:
0.1 Unknown (Wild x Wild) 0000-00-00 in Sea of Okhotsk, Russia
0.1 Unknown (Wild x Wild) 0000-00-00 in Sea of Okhotsk, Russia
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That's a surprise; I wasn't aware of SunAsia holding any orcas yet! Did these two females come straight from Russia? I thought they were coming from Chimelong?
 
Jambo said:
Interesting that they have two males; they plan to work with Kanagowa on breeding so this makes sense as Kanagowa have four females. Hopefully they can undertake AI soon.



That's a surprise; I wasn't aware of SunAsia holding any orcas yet! Did these two females come straight from Russia? I thought they were coming from Chimelong?
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These two females were wild caught in Russia and then sent to Linyi Polar Ocean World. At some point Linyi Polar Ocean World started to have financial issues so they were sent to SunAsia Beluga Whale World.
 
Apologies, just found the paper again, it was Grace, Orpheus and Nord that Narnia encouraged to start eating fish.

The following regarding Wuxi Changqiao Ocean Kingdom was posted in February of last year, I can't find the original source but I kept a copy of the translation:
"Hongshan friends pay attention! There is bad news for Changqiao Aquarium! It has been officially confirmed! According to the latest official news from Wuxi, the highly anticipated Hongshan Plate Changqiao Aquarium will stop construction!
Funding problems, stop construction
On February 10, someone asked in the government mailbox whether the marine park in Wuxi's Hongshan plate would be rebuilt, and just today, Hongshan Street in Xinwu District gave a reply:
"After verification, due to the financial problems of Changqiao Group, the project contract was terminated, and Changqiao Aquarium was no longer developed and constructed."
In other words, the construction of the Changqiao Aquarium project has been stopped, and the reason for the suspension is the "financial problem" of the Changqiao Group."

So it is possible that Wuxi may have to sell their animals off/move them on. The two whales were originally owned by Linyi and were sold to Wuxi when they started having financial issues.
 
katinakalinakaterina said:
Apologies, just found the paper again, it was Grace, Orpheus and Nord that Narnia encouraged to start eating fish.

The following regarding Wuxi Changqiao Ocean Kingdom was posted in February of last year, I can't find the original source but I kept a copy of the translation:
"Hongshan friends pay attention! There is bad news for Changqiao Aquarium! It has been officially confirmed! According to the latest official news from Wuxi, the highly anticipated Hongshan Plate Changqiao Aquarium will stop construction!
Funding problems, stop construction
On February 10, someone asked in the government mailbox whether the marine park in Wuxi's Hongshan plate would be rebuilt, and just today, Hongshan Street in Xinwu District gave a reply:
"After verification, due to the financial problems of Changqiao Group, the project contract was terminated, and Changqiao Aquarium was no longer developed and constructed."
In other words, the construction of the Changqiao Aquarium project has been stopped, and the reason for the suspension is the "financial problem" of the Changqiao Group."

So it is possible that Wuxi may have to sell their animals off/move them on. The two whales were originally owned by Linyi and were sold to Wuxi when they started having financial issues.
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So Wuxi are having financial problems too...wow

I'd like to see them sent to Japan but don't know how that's gonna happen as Kanagowa don't have the space.
 
It looks like the plan for Zhengzhou Haichang Ocean Park to house two orcas will be by moving the calf 'Cody' and male 'Sean'. It is not known when this will happen or when the park will be opened. On that note, Kamogawa will also be moving two of their females to Suma Aqualife Park, possibly around September time. It is currently unknown which two whales will be transferred.
 
katinakalinakaterina said:
It looks like the plan for Zhengzhou Haichang Ocean Park to house two orcas will be by moving the calf 'Cody' and male 'Sean'. It is not known when this will happen or when the park will be opened. On that note, Kamogawa will also be moving two of their females to Suma Aqualife Park, possibly around September time. It is currently unknown which two whales will be transferred.
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Interesting news.

It makes sense to move Sean as he dosen't get along well with the girls.

The two females from Kanagowa would probably be the younger two (Ran and Luna), but I'm not sure. It'll be interesting if Kanagowa then reacquires Stella and Lynn to breed.
 
Jambo said:
The two females from Kanagowa would probably be the younger two (Ran and Luna), but I'm not sure. It'll be interesting if Kanagowa then reacquires Stella and Lynn to breed.
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While I agree it will likely be Ran and Luna being transferred, it makes absolutely zero sense for KSW to re-acquire Lynn and Stella. Nagoya is rather committed to maintaining orcas, and has a very successful group in their current three, and a massive pool complex.

Lovey and Lara are a hyper compatible sibling pair who get along very well with each other, but have a weird social thing going on and are a little iffy with other whales, additionally KSW also has the smallest sized tank complex of the three.

So from that standpoint, it makes little sense to bring in any more whales aside from perhaps a mature bull. All you’re doing is risking any new animals being harassed by the sibling duo (or in the case of Stella and Lovey, two matriarchs clashing and butting heads constantly), and considering that Lovey is a proven breeder and a successful mother with a good 20-odd years of reproductive life left in her, the most logical route to expanding their pod if they so desire is through breeding from her, and not bringing in new females.

Plus if Japan is to attempt breeding again without bringing in any new males, Nagoya has the least related pairing option already together for natural breeding.
 
Kiska passed away at the age of 46 at Marineland Canada on March 9th, 2023. She was Marineland's sole surviving orca. Kiska was captured in Iceland in 1979 and birthed five calves throughout her lifetime, her longest surviving offspring being Hudson who passed at age 6. Rest in peace!
CTV's article reporting the death is found here.
 
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ketoflukes said:
Kiska passed away at the age of 47 at Marineland Canada on March 9th, 2023. She was Marineland's sole surviving orca. Kiska was captured in Iceland in 1979 and birthed four calves throughout her lifetime, her longest surviving offspring being Hudson who passed at age 6. Rest in peace!
The Star's article reporting the death is found here.
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Devastating news to hear. :( She'll obviously be Canada's last ever Orca, so it's really the end of an era, not only for Marineland, but for the country as a whole too.

She was about 46 years of age, not 47, and was the fourth oldest Orca in captivity (second oldest Icelandic, behind Katina).

May she rest in peace.
 
Jambo said:
She was about 46 years of age, not 47, and was the fourth oldest Orca in captivity (second oldest Icelandic, behind Katina).
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Thanks for confirming. I was a tad unsure as multiple outlets had reported her age as 47. It is heartbreaking. She was captured in the same month as Keiko too.
 
ketoflukes said:
Thanks for confirming. I was a tad unsure as multiple outlets had reported her age as 47. It is heartbreaking. She was captured in the same month as Keiko too.
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Your welcome.

It's a rough estimate, so not entirely accurate. Captive facilities usually document their whales estimated age at capture based on their size, and most of the orcas brought in from Iceland were listed as two years of age at the time of capture. So Kiska was at least 46, but could've been older. Katina was captured a year earlier, and was thus roughly a year older.

It's very possible her and Keiko were captured from the same pod as well.
 
Hyak_II said:
I personally, do not want tokitae to be moved. That animal has lived in complete social isolation from other orcas for 42 years, and has been in the exact same habitat for even longer.

While I do wish overall she could be in a better habitat and have same species social companions, at this point in her life, I would be incredibly concerned that trying to do that would kill her. Although she is generally known as a fairly healthy and good natured animal, she’s also EXTREMELY change adversive (to the point where if she misses a que during a routine session and receives an LRS, she will break control to fast swim in agitation), and she’s also by all accounts, very old. The combination of such extreme change, coupled with her overall agent personality, could very well cause enough stress to do the poor whale in. If she was 30 years younger, I would say it would definitely be worth a chance, but at this point, is it really worth it?

Back in my aquarium days, I was heavily involved in the training field, and attended a number of conferences and meet ups where I got to talk to her actual trainers in a candid fashion (not the usual public perception spiel they give to the general public). They all love her and wish she had better living conditions, but none of them want them want them changed now, for the mentioned reasons above. if they were somehow able to construct an additional pool onto the whale bowl where it currently is, merely sectioning off the little back portion of the pool with watertight gates to complete the link to the new addition, I think that would be fine with her, as she could then enter the new habitat at her own pace, but anything more than that would have to be taken with extreme, extreme caution.
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Also she hates change.
 
Lizardman64 said:
Also she hates change.
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It seems the new owners are keen on moving her elsewhere; whether that’s at another facility like SeaWorld, or an ocean pen. Despite its risks with her being a very change adverse animal, many have acknowledged it’s worth the risk as an expansion of her current complex is very unlikely (especially under the new owners).

Health is probably the main factor that would affect a potential move. For the past year she has been suffering from many health concerns so she would need to get better if any move was to be considered.

Right now her future at the Seaquarium is in limbo. It’s very 50/50; I wouldn’t be surprised if she remained at Seaquarium for remainder of her life but I also wouldn’t be surprised if a move was made.
 
Miami seaquarium was doing an announcement today related to Lolita and "bringing her back to her home waters" as they said... I guess related to the whale sanctuary project. Anyone has any news about this?
 
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