Shamu (unknown – August 16, 1971) was a
captive orca
A number of orcas, also called killer whales, are held in Captivity (animal), captivity by humans for breeding or performance purposes. The practice of capturing and displaying orcas in exhibitions began in the 1960s, and they soon became popular ...
that appeared in shows at
SeaWorld San Diego in the mid/late 1960s. She was the fourth orca ever captured, and the second female. She was caught in October 1965 and died in August 1971, after about six years of captivity.
After her death, the name Shamu continued to be used in
SeaWorld "Shamu" shows for different orcas in different SeaWorld parks.
Early life
Shamu was the first known intentional live capture of a healthy orca as the three previous captures (
Wanda,
Moby Doll and
Namu) had been more opportunistic.
The very young, 14-foot (4.25m), 2000 lb (900 kg)
Southern resident orca was captured by
Ted Griffin
Ted Griffin (born December 21, 1970) is an American screenwriter whose credits include '' Ravenous'', ''Matchstick Men'', and ''Ocean's Eleven''.
Born in Pasadena, California, Griffin graduated from Colgate University in 1993. He was schedule ...
off
Penn Cove,
Puget Sound,
Washington in October 1965 to be a companion for the male orca
Namu at Griffin's
Seattle public aquarium.
[ Her name means ‘Friend of Namu’ (alternatively 'She-Namu'). Shamu was sold to SeaWorld in San Diego in December 1965.]
Captivity
Shamu was retired from performing after an incident on April 19, 1971, in which she bit the legs and hips of Annette Eckis, a SeaWorld employee who was told to ride her as part of a filmed publicity event, and refused to release the woman until other workers came to the rescue and pried the whale's jaws apart with a pole.[Eckis v. Sea World Corp. iv. No. 14458. Court of Appeals of California, Fourth Appellate District, Division One. November 19, 1976.]4 Cal. App. 3d 1
4 (four) is a number, numeral (linguistics), numeral and numerical digit, digit. It is the natural number following 3 and preceding 5. It is the smallest semiprime and composite number, and is tetraphobia, considered unlucky in many East Asian c ...
br>justia.com link
[ Shamu had also been showing signs of erratic behavior and of being upset just before the incident.][
Shamu died about four months later, on August 16, 1971.][
]
See also
* List of individual cetaceans
References
External links
"Era of the Orca Cowboys" article by Daniel Francis and Gil Hewlett in ''The Tyee'' webzine, May 16, 2008
{{Authority control
Individual orcas
1971 animal deaths
SeaWorld San Diego
Southern resident orcas