This article is about the original killer whale Shamu. For other uses, see Shamu (disambiguation).
Shamu/ʃæmuː/ (unknown – August 16, 1971) was a female orca captured in October 1965 from a southern resident pod. She was sold to SeaWorld San Diego and became a star attraction. Shamu was the fourth orca ever captured, and the second female.[1] She died in August 1971, after about six years of captivity.[2] After her death, the name Shamu continued to be used in SeaWorld "Shamu" shows for different orcas in different SeaWorld parks.
Shamu was the first-known intentional live capture of a healthy orca as the three previous captures (Wanda, Moby Doll and Namu) had been unintentional and opportunistic.[2] The very young, 14-foot (4.3 m), 2,000-pound (910 kg) southern resident orca was captured by Ted Griffin off Penn Cove, Puget Sound, Washington in October 1965 to be a companion for the male orca Namu at Griffin's Seattle public aquarium.[3][4][5] Her name means 'Friend of Namu'[6] (alternatively 'She-Namu').[7] Shamu was sold to SeaWorld in San Diego in December 1965.[3][8]
Captivityedit
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. Shamu refused to release the woman until other workers came to the rescue and pried the orca's jaws apart with a pole.[9][10] The employee had been asked to ride Shamu while wearing a bikini, and had not known that the orca had previously attacked people who wore ordinary bathing suits and was only conditioned to perform with trainers wearing wetsuits.[9] Shamu had also been showing signs of erratic behavior and of being upset just before the incident.[9]
Shamu died about four months later, on August 16, 1971.[2]
^ abcEckis v. Sea World Corp. [Civ. No. 14458. Court of Appeals of California, Fourth Appellate District, Division One. November 19, 1976.] [64 Cal. App. 3d 1] (justia.com link)
^"Killer Whale Bites Girl In Marine Act Rehearsal". Toledo Blade. Associated Press. April 20, 1971. Retrieved September 22, 2014.
External linksedit
"Era of the Orca Cowboys" article by Daniel Francis and Gil Hewlett in The Tyee webzine, May 16, 2008
December 18, 2023
shamu, this, article, about, original, killer, whale, other, uses, disambiguation, unknown, august, 1971, female, orca, captured, october, 1965, from, southern, resident, sold, seaworld, diego, became, star, attraction, fourth, orca, ever, captured, second, fe. This article is about the original killer whale Shamu For other uses see Shamu disambiguation Shamu ʃ ae m uː unknown August 16 1971 was a female orca captured in October 1965 from a southern resident pod She was sold to SeaWorld San Diego and became a star attraction Shamu was the fourth orca ever captured and the second female 1 She died in August 1971 after about six years of captivity 2 After her death the name Shamu continued to be used in SeaWorld Shamu shows for different orcas in different SeaWorld parks ShamuSpeciesOrca Orcinus orca SexFemaleBornUnknownDiedAugust 16 1971SeaWorld San DiegoYears active1965 1971Known forNamesake of the Shamu show Contents 1 Early life 2 Captivity 3 See also 4 References 5 External linksEarly life editShamu was the first known intentional live capture of a healthy orca as the three previous captures Wanda Moby Doll and Namu had been unintentional and opportunistic 2 The very young 14 foot 4 3 m 2 000 pound 910 kg southern resident orca was captured by Ted Griffin off Penn Cove Puget Sound Washington in October 1965 to be a companion for the male orca Namu at Griffin s Seattle public aquarium 3 4 5 Her name means Friend of Namu 6 alternatively She Namu 7 Shamu was sold to SeaWorld in San Diego in December 1965 3 8 Captivity editShamu 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 Shamu refused to release the woman until other workers came to the rescue and pried the orca s jaws apart with a pole 9 10 The employee had been asked to ride Shamu while wearing a bikini and had not known that the orca had previously attacked people who wore ordinary bathing suits and was only conditioned to perform with trainers wearing wetsuits 9 Shamu had also been showing signs of erratic behavior and of being upset just before the incident 9 Shamu died about four months later on August 16 1971 2 See also editList of individual cetaceansReferences edit Other Captive Orcas Historical Chronology A Whale Of A Business FRONTLINE PBS pbs org a b c Stories Of Captive Killer Whales A Whale Of A Business FRONTLINE PBS pbs org a b SeaWorld Investigation Secrets Below the Surface KGTV San Diego Retrieved 2008 05 05 The Killer in the Pool Zimmermann Tim Outside Magazine 2010 July Retrieved 2010 July 12 Granny s Struggle A black and white gold rush is on Lyke M L Seattle Post Intelligencer 2006 October 11 Retrieved 2010 July 12 How did Shamu get her name orlandovillas com Zimmermann Tim July 30 2010 The Killer in the Pool A Story that Started a Movement Outside Online Shamu Orca Aware Orca Aware a b c Eckis v Sea World Corp Civ No 14458 Court of Appeals of California Fourth Appellate District Division One November 19 1976 64 Cal App 3d 1 justia com link Killer Whale Bites Girl In Marine Act Rehearsal Toledo Blade Associated Press April 20 1971 Retrieved September 22 2014 External links edit Era of the Orca Cowboys article by Daniel Francis and Gil Hewlett in The Tyee webzine May 16 2008 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Shamu amp oldid 1188351461, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
