Is Shamu Still Alive or Dead?
Shamu was a captive orca that appeared in shows at SeaWorld San Diego in the 1960s. She was the fourth and second female orca captured. Shamu was captured in 1965, she was 14-foot, and 2000 lb. when she was caught by Ted Griffin at Washington. She was named Shamu meaning “Friend of Namu”. While in captivity, Shamu…
Shamu was a captive orca that appeared in shows at SeaWorld San Diego in the 1960s. She was the fourth and second female orca captured. Shamu was captured in 1965, she was 14-foot, and 2000 lb. when she was caught by Ted Griffin at Washington. She was named Shamu meaning “Friend of Namu”.
While in captivity, Shamu attacked and severely injured one employee, Anne Eckis. The orca grabbed the employee and dragged her to the bottom of the pool refusing to let go. The workers had to pry the whale’s jaws apart with a pole to rescue the employee. Shamu performed in SeaWorld, San Diego from December 1965 to April 1971.
After the incident with the employee, Shamu did not perform much and exhibited erratic behavior. Recently, Shamu has become a symbol of SeaWorld’s checkered history with animal welfare. The organization has been accused of cruelty to animals on countless occasions.
Is Shamu Still Alive or Dead?
Shamu died on August 16, 1971. She has been the subject of a Netflix documentary, “Blackfish.”
