Shamu: The Killer Orca

The name Shamu means "She-Namu" and was given to the second female orca ever captured. She was only the third orca ever displayed in a public exhibit and was originally intended to be a companion for the orca Namu at a Seattle public aquarium. But the two orcas experienced social conflicts and Shamu was eventually leased to and then purchased by SeaWorld San Diego on December 20, 1965.


According to wikipedia, Shamu was a Southern Resident orca, likely born in 1961 and captured in Puget Sound in 1965. She performed in several SeaWorld shows and eventually died on August 23, 1971. Her final year of performing in front of an audience was mired in controversy. She was retired from performing after an incident caught on tape where she attacked Annette Eckis, an employee of SeaWorld at the time, who was supposed to ride her.


Today, "Shamu," "Namu," and "Ramu" are trademarked stage names given to all of the orcas residing within the SeaWorld parks. The first Baby Shamu is named Kalina. She is the first surviving orca born in captivity on September 26, 1985. Notably, ten orca calves had been born in captivity before 1985, but five were stillborn and the others all died within two months of their births. Kalina's parents, Katina and Winston, were bestowed the names Namu (Katina) and Ramu (Winston). The stage name Grandbaby Shamu was given to Kalina's first calf, which was born on February 2, 1993 - a male named Keet.


The first Great Grandbaby Shamu was Keet's first calf, born on December 21, 2004 - a female named Kalia. The first ever calf to be born to captive-bred parents (Kayla and Keet) is a female named Halyn, who was born on October 9, 2005 and died on June 15, 2008.