Shamu facts for kids
| Species | Killer whale (Orcinus orca) |
|---|---|
| Breed | Southern resident |
| Sex | Female |
| Born | Unknown |
| Died | August 16, 1971 SeaWorld San Diego |
| Years active | 1965-1971 |
| Known for | Namesake of the Shamu show |
Shamu was a famous killer whale who performed in shows at SeaWorld San Diego. She lived there in the mid to late 1960s. Shamu was the fourth killer whale ever captured for display. She was also the second female orca caught for this purpose. She was caught in October 1965 and passed away in August 1971. This means she lived in captivity for about six years. After her death, the name Shamu became very well known. SeaWorld continued to use it for other killer whales in their popular "Shamu" shows at different parks.
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Shamu's Early Life
Shamu was the first healthy killer whale caught on purpose. Before her, three other orcas named Wanda, Moby Doll, and Namu were caught more by chance. Shamu was a young Southern resident killer whale. She was about 14 feet (4.25 meters) long and weighed around 2,000 pounds (900 kg).
How Shamu Was Captured
Ted Griffin captured Shamu in October 1965. This happened near Penn Cove, in Puget Sound, Washington. Griffin wanted her to be a friend for his male killer whale, Namu. Namu lived at Griffin's public aquarium in Seattle. Shamu's name means 'Friend of Namu' or 'She-Namu'. In December 1965, Shamu was sold to SeaWorld in San Diego.
Life in Captivity
Shamu performed in shows at SeaWorld for several years. She was a big star and helped people learn more about killer whales. However, her performing career ended in April 1971.
An Event in 1971
On April 19, 1971, an event happened that led to Shamu's retirement. A SeaWorld employee named Anne Eckis was asked to ride Shamu for a video. The employee was wearing a bikini. What she didn't know was that Shamu had reacted strongly to people in regular swimsuits before. Shamu was only used to performing with trainers who wore wetsuits. Just before this event, Shamu had also been showing signs of being upset. During the filming, Shamu held the employee's legs and hips. Other workers had to help by using a pole to gently open the whale's jaws.
Shamu's Passing
Shamu passed away about four months after this event. She died on August 16, 1971.
