Samoa (orca)
Killer whale (Orcinus orca) | |
|---|---|
| Breed | Icelandic |
| Sex | Female |
| Born | c. 1980 |
| Died | SeaWorld San Antonio |
| Years active | 1983-1992 |
| Offspring | 1 |
| Weight | 6,150 lb (2,790 kg) |
Samoa was a female killer whale captured in November 1983 in Iceland. She was captured off the east coast near Berufjordur and was sent to Saedyrasafnid aquarium before she was sold to Acuarama, a Brazilian aquarium along with a male named Nandu. [1]
After Nandu's death, Samoa was Acuarama's only killer whale and was sold to
During her stay at Texas she mated with an Icelandic killer whale named Kotar.[2] Samoa died due to complications of giving birth. On March 14, 1992, Samoa went into premature labour, and died giving birth to a female calf a few hours later. The calf was stillborn.[2] While Seaworld staff never reported unusual behavior, guests had made reports that prior to her death, Samoa had been coming out of the water and landing on the concrete slide-out area.[3] It was the first reported death of a SeaWorld orca while giving birth.
The age of Samoa at the time of here death ranged from 12 to 14 as indicated in various sources.[2][4]
See also
References
- ^ Hoyt, Erich 1990. Orca - The Whale Called Killer. E.P. Dutton, New York
- ^ a b c d "Killer Whale Dies While Giving Birth". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved 2013-05-20.
- ^ Death at SeaWorld: Shamu and the Dark Side of Killer Whales in Captivity, David Kirby, Page 170
- ^ Daytona Beach Sunday News-Journal - Mar 15, 1992
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