Corky (orca)
Species | Orca (Orcinus orca) |
---|---|
Sex | Female |
Born | est. 1965 (age 58–59) |
Years active | 1969–present |
Known for | Oldest captive orca as of 2023 |
Parent(s) | Stripe (mother) |
Mate(s) | Orky II |
Offspring | Spooky (son) Kiva (daughter) (none survived to adulthood) |
Weight | 8,000 lb (3,600 kg)[1] |
Named after | Orca named Corky (died 1970) |
Corky II (born c. 1965), often referred to as just Corky, is a female
Early life
Corky was born in 1965. Her mother, designated A23, nicknamed "Stripe", died in 2000. Corky, along with a young unnamed male and a young female later named Patches, were sold to
Captivity
Corky II received her name after the park's original orca, Corky I, died in December 1970. Corky was kept with a male named
In 1987, Corky was sold to
As of 2023, Corky remains at SeaWorld San Diego and lives with seven other orcas.[10]
Incident
In 1989 the dominant female orca,
Controversy
Corky is the subject of various campaigns by animal rights activists and organizations, including PETA, demanding her retirement and release.[14][15] In 2017, a Canadian orca research organization created a banner from more than 17,000 pieces of artwork that stretched 1.5 miles as a means to promote her freedom.[16] A proposed 40 acre sea sanctuary located off Hanson Island in British Columbia has been proposed for her relocation, but SeaWorld remains resistant, arguing Corky would not survive.[17] Support for her release surged after Lolita died before her release, including people writing letters to SeaWorld.[18][19]
See also
Further reading
- Ford, John K.B.; Ellis, Graeme M.; & Balcomb, Kenneth C. (2000). Killer Whales (2nd ed.). UBC Press. ISBN 0-7748-0800-4.
- Hoyt, Erich. (1990). Orca: The Whale Called Killer (3rd ed.). London: Robert Hale Limited. ISBN 0-920656-25-0.
- Morton, Alexandra. (2002). Listening to Whales: What the Orcas Have Taught Us New York: Ballantine Publishing Group. ISBN 0-345-43794-2.
- Patryla, Jim. (2005). A Photographic Journey Back To Marineland of the Pacific Lulu Publishing. ISBN 978-1-4116-7130-0.
References
- ^ "Performing Whale Dies in Collision With Another". The New York Times. 23 August 1989. Retrieved 28 April 2021.
- ^ "Corky's Story". Hal Sato. Archived from the original on March 7, 2016. Retrieved January 29, 2016.
- ^ Palmer, Mark J (21 May 2020). "MEET CORKY, THE LONGEST-HELD ORCA IN CAPTIVITY". savedolphins.eii.org. Retrieved 28 April 2021.
- ^ "Corky's Calves". orcaaware.org. British Divers Marine Life Rescue.
- ^ Farhoud, Nada (1 May 2020). "Fight to reunite Orca with family after being held captive in tank for 50 years". mirror.co.uk. Daily Mirror. Retrieved 28 April 2021.
- ^ "Corky". dolphinspirit.org. Retrieved 28 April 2021.
- ^ "Photo from the movie "Tentacles" provided by CoolAssCinema.com and Kimmy Vengeance". inherentlywild.co.uk. Retrieved 10 May 2021.
- ^ "Corky's Calves". orcaaware.org. British Divers Marine Life Rescue.
- ^ Roach Monroe, Linda (27 September 1988). "Orky, Oldest Killer Whale in Captivity, Dies". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 28 April 2021.
- ^ "Killer Whale Education and Conservation". seaworld.com. SeaWorld. Retrieved 28 April 2021.
- ^ "Performing Whale Dies in Collision With Another". The New York Times. New York Times. 23 August 1989. Retrieved 6 May 2018.
- ^ REZA, H.G.; JOHNSON, GREG (23 August 1989). "Killer Whale Bled to Death After Breaking Jaw in Fight". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 6 May 2018.
- ^ REZA, H.G. (22 August 1989). "Whales Collide, 1 Is Fatally Injured in Sea World Tank". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 6 May 2018.
- ^ https://www.peta.org/blog/on-seaworlds-60th-anniversary-christopher-von-uckermann-shares-a-personal-plea/
- ^ "Free Corky Campaign". orcalab.org. Retrieved 28 April 2021.
- ^ "SeaWorld Won't Miss This 1.5-Mile-Long 'Free Corky' Banner". seaworldofhurt.com. 13 May 2017. Retrieved 28 April 2021.
- ^ "Returning 'Corky,' a wild orca, to her birthplace after 50 years in captivity". cbc.ca. Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 28 April 2021.
- ^ https://www.local10.com/news/local/2023/08/20/activists-hol
- ^ Gibson, Caitlin (December 5, 2023). "The call of Tokitae". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on December 5, 2023. Retrieved December 10, 2023.