Nootka (pronounced noot-KAH), also known as T005, Newtka, or Knootka, was an approximately 24-year-old female West Coast transient killer whale who lived at SeaWorld San Diego. She was captured on March 3rd, 1970 from Pedder Bay, British Columbia at approximately 4 years old. She was believed to be the daughter of T002 "Florencia." Nootka passed away due to pneumonia on March 13th, 1990 at SeaWorld San Diego. She was one of the few transient killer whales ever kept at SeaWorld.
Capture and Park Life[]
In 1970, Nootka, then known as T005, along with four other whales, T002, an adult female, T001, an adult male, T003, also known as Scarredjaw Cow, and T004, the young albino female later known as Chimo, were netted in Pender Bay.[1] T002 was believed to be Nootka's mother. Because they were transients, all five whales refused to eat the fish that they were offered. Several weeks later Nootka and Chimo were separated from the others and sold to Sealand of the Pacific. At Sealand, they met Haida. Although separated by a net, Haida offered them dead fish and managed to convince the two newcomers to eat for the first time in weeks.
Life at Sealand[]
She, Chimo, and Haida lived and performed at Sealand together. For the first year, the three whales got along well. Eventually, however, Nootka began to become more dominant. She was especially aggressive towards Chimo. Nootka was transferred to the Japanese Deer Park in April of 1971.[2]
Life at the Japanese Deer Park[]
Nootka, who was known as Newtka for the next several years, had been sent to the Japanese Deer Park so she could be trained for another marine park, Seven Seas Marine Life Park in Texas. She was only on public display at the Japanese Deer Park for a few months.[3] Nootka remained at the park for about ten months before being shipped to Texas.
Life at Seven Seas[]
Nootka at Seven Seas, Arlington, TX. Photo provided by the University of Texas Arlington.
Nootka arrived at Seven Seas Marine Life Park on February 7th, 1972.[4] She was one of the park's star attractions, and she developed a reputation for aggression. After two initial years of success the park's attendance started to decline and profits started to dip. The decision was made that the animals would sold off in hopes of trying to recoup some of the millions of dollars invested into the park's construction.[5] Beginning in 1974, Seven Seas began trying to sell Nootka. She was eventually purchased by Marineland of Canada, and she arrived at the facility on September 14th, 1975.[4]
Marineland Canada[]
Nootka at Marineland Canada.
On September 14, 1975 Nootka arrived at Marineland Canada to join the park's resident whale, Kandu II. Two days later the male Kanduke joined them and over the next three years the three whales preformed together in the parks small show tank. Early in January of 1979 Kandu II died leaving Nootka and Knaduke alone together, and for the next seven and a half years many other new younger whales would be transferred in and out of the park's tanks. Nootka and Kanduke got along and preformed well together, most likely because they were both transient killer whales. In late 1979 a new permanent resident, Kiska, was added to the park. Despite having been kept together for many years Nootka never had any calves or pregnancies that were reported to the public. In the spring of 1986 Nootka was separated from long time companion and sent to the SeaWorld park in California. Kanduke would be transferred a few months later the park in Florida.
SeaWorld San Diego[]
Nootka preforming at SeaWorld San Diego.
On April 27th, 1986 Nootka was moved to SeaWorld San Diego. She would spend the rest of her life here. Not much is known about her time here or how she got along with the other whales, but there where no major incidences with her tankmates reported. She was introduced to the resident females Kenau and Kandu V. Nootka was often described as a very dominate whale, but Kandu V was known to be at the top of the pecking order at the park. Over the four years Nootka would live at the park, many other whales were moved in and out do to transfers. The next year after her arrival another more gentle permanent resident was move in, Corky II and her male companion, Orky II who would died a year and a half later. [4] A year later Orkid was born to Kandu V who, several months later, would tragically died after an aggressive interaction got out of hand. She performed regularly in shows and with other whales.
Death[]
In August of 1989, Nootka's health began to decline, and she developed chronic pneumonia. On March 13th, 1990, Nootka passed away.[6]
Behavioral Incidents[]
On one occasion, Nootka launched herself out of the water after a PR man. She completely beached herself in her attempts to get after the man, and had to be returned to the water with a crane. Her head trainer, Larry Lawrence, was also attacked by the whale. At one point, he was sticking his head in her mouth for a trick when she closed her jaws on his neck. He escaped with only minor scrapes, but the trick was not performed with Nootka again. At least two other trainers were bitten on the head by Nootka. In yet another incident, Nootka raked Lawrence's leg with her teeth, causing him to sustain injuries that required 145 stitches.
Galleries[]
- Photos of Nootka
- Videos of Nootka
Transfer History[]
| FROM: | TO: | ON: |
|---|---|---|
| Pedder Bay, British Columbia | Pedder Bay Sea Pen, British Columbia | Mar. 01, 1970 |
| Pedder Bay Sea Pen, British Columbia | Sealand of the Pacific, British Columbia | Mar. 25, 1970 |
| Sealand of the Pacific, British Columbia | Japanese Deer Park, California | Apr. 21, 1971 |
| Japanese Deer Park, California | Seven Seas Marine Life Park, Texas | Feb. 07, 1972 |
| Seven Seas Marine Life Park, Texas | Marineland of Canada, Ontario | Sep. 14, 1975 |
| Marineland of Canada, Ontario | SeaWorld San Diego, California | Apr. 27, 1986 |
References[]
- ↑ Transients: Mammal-hunting Killer Whales of British Columbia, Washington, and Southeastern Alaska
- ↑ Orca: How We Came to Know and Love the Ocean's Greatest Predator
- ↑ 'Whale of a Load' (1971)
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Cetabase: SeaWorld San Diego
- ↑ 'Anybody Wanta Buy a Whale?' (1974)
- ↑ Necropsy- Killer Whale Nootka