Katina (whale)
Encyclopedia
Katina is a female Orca
(killer whale) who lives in SeaWorld Orlando
in Florida
. She was captured off Iceland
at approximately two years of age on October 26, 1978. She is the most successful breeding female Orca in captivity.
in Niagara Falls
, Canada
, where she was first named Kandu 6. She was shipped to the facility soon after. However, she did not spend much time there. Sometime between April and June of 1979, Katina was bought by SeaWorld
. She was sent to their park in San Diego
. In 1982, Katina was moved to the park in Ohio
with another female named Kasatka
, with whom she was captured in 1978. For two years, the two would perform in the Ohio park during the summer months and then be moved back to San Diego for the winter. Finally, in September or October of 1984, Katina was transferred to the SeaWorld in Orlando. She has remained there ever since.
(Asterisk indicates a deceased relative)
. Soon afterward, she was moved back to Sea World Ohio in Aurora, Ohio for the summer. While there, the trainers soon realized she was pregnant. Because of this, she was moved to Orlando in the end of the summer season. This is where she gave birth.
On September 26, 1985, Katina went into labor. A few hours later, she bore her first calf—a female, who was named Kalina. Although ten Orca calves had been born in captivity prior to Kalina, none of them had survived past a few weeks. This made Kalina the first Orca calf to be successfully born and raised in captivity
, which made Katina the first successful mother. The success of the captive Orca breeding program began with Katina in 1985.
in Texas
at 10.5 years of age.
A male named Tilikum
came to SeaWorld in January of 1992. It wasn't long before Katina was pregnant again. She gave birth to her first son on September 9, 1993; the calf was named Taku. Just a few months prior to Taku's birth, Katina's first-born calf Kalina gave birth to her first calf, Keet
, on February 2, 1993, thus making Katina a grandmother. Keet was born in SeaWorld San Antonio, where Kalina resided at the time.
Katina's next calf came on December 27, 1996. It was a female and she was named Unna. Her fifth calf was a male born on August 25, 2002; he would later be named Ikaika. Unna, Ikaika, and Taku were all fathered by Tilikum.
Katina gave birth to her sixth calf on September 18, 2006. The calf appears to be in good health and is now appearing in shows with Katina. The calf is a female and has been named Nalani. The father has said to be Katina's son, Taku.
On October 9, 2010, Katina gave birth to her seventh calf and her third son, Makaio, just a few days after her first offspring Kalina died. He was sired by Tilikum, who had already fathered three of her previous children.
Besides Keet, Katina has three other grandchildren all born to Kalina and two great-grandchildren. Kalina has three other calves: Keto (male; born 1995), Tuar (male; born 1999), and Skyla
(female; born 2004). She has another grandchild who is sired by her son Taku born to Takara
named Trua. Keet, Kalina's oldest calf, has fathered two daughters of his own: Kalia (2004) and Halyn* (2005–2008), making Katina the first ever great-grandmother at SeaWorld. Keto, Kalina's second son, sired his first son Adan in 2010.
Being the matriarch of the Orcas, Katina is rather dominant. She can sometimes, although rarely, be stubborn and refuse to perform. When this happens, usually all of the other Orcas follow suit.
Katina only lives with two of her six calves (Makaio and Nalani) and one of her grandchildren (Trua). She is always with her calf, but was also with Takara and Trua quite often up until Takara was transferred to SeaWorld San Antonio. A new female named Kayla arrived in Orlando from SeaWorld San Antonio. She and Katina spend a lot of time together. Seaworld announced on May 18, 2010 that Katina was pregnant again by Tilikum. She gave birth to Makaio at 7:28 pm on Saturday October 9, 2010. It was determined a male on October 18, 2010. As of December 2010 Makaio was 7 feet long and weighed approximately 550 pounds.
Orca
The killer whale , commonly referred to as the orca, and less commonly as the blackfish, is a toothed whale belonging to the oceanic dolphin family. Killer whales are found in all oceans, from the frigid Arctic and Antarctic regions to tropical seas...
(killer whale) who lives in SeaWorld Orlando
SeaWorld Orlando
SeaWorld Orlando is a theme park, and marine-life based zoological park, near Orlando, Florida. It is owned and operated by SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment, a subsidiary of The Blackstone Group...
in Florida
Orlando, Florida
Orlando is a city in the central region of the U.S. state of Florida. It is the county seat of Orange County, and the center of the Greater Orlando metropolitan area. According to the 2010 US Census, the city had a population of 238,300, making Orlando the 79th largest city in the United States...
. She was captured off Iceland
Iceland
Iceland , described as the Republic of Iceland, is a Nordic and European island country in the North Atlantic Ocean, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Iceland also refers to the main island of the country, which contains almost all the population and almost all the land area. The country has a population...
at approximately two years of age on October 26, 1978. She is the most successful breeding female Orca in captivity.
Transfers
Upon her capture, Katina was purchased by MarinelandMarineland (Ontario)
Marineland is a themed amusement and animal exhibition park in the city of Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada...
in Niagara Falls
Niagara Falls, Ontario
Niagara Falls is a Canadian city on the Niagara River in the Golden Horseshoe region of Southern Ontario. The municipality was incorporated on June 12, 1903...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, where she was first named Kandu 6. She was shipped to the facility soon after. However, she did not spend much time there. Sometime between April and June of 1979, Katina was bought by SeaWorld
SeaWorld
SeaWorld is a United States chain of marine mammal parks, oceanariums, and animal theme parks owned by SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment. The parks feature captive orca, sea lion, and dolphin shows and zoological displays featuring various other marine animals. There are operations in Orlando,...
. She was sent to their park in San Diego
SeaWorld San Diego
SeaWorld San Diego is an animal theme park, oceanarium, and marine mammal park, located in San Diego, California, United States. The park is owned by SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment, a division of The Blackstone Group....
. In 1982, Katina was moved to the park in Ohio
SeaWorld Ohio
SeaWorld Ohio was a park in the SeaWorld chain of marine animal theme parks. The park opened in 1970 directly across from Geauga Lake in Aurora, Ohio, USA....
with another female named Kasatka
Kasatka
Kasatka is a female Orca who lives at SeaWorld San Diego and the mother of Takara, Nakai, and Kalia. She was captured off the coast of Iceland on October 26, 1978, at the age of one year. Her name probably comes from the Russian word Kasatka , a generic name for Orcas...
, with whom she was captured in 1978. For two years, the two would perform in the Ohio park during the summer months and then be moved back to San Diego for the winter. Finally, in September or October of 1984, Katina was transferred to the SeaWorld in Orlando. She has remained there ever since.
Family members/breed
- Daughters: Kalina*, Katerina*, Unna, and Nalani
- Sons: Taku*, Ikaika, and Makaio (born October 2010)
- Granddaughters: Skyla
- Grandsons: Keet, Keto, Tuar, and Trua
- Greatgrandchildren: Kalia and Halyn*
- Greatgrandson: Adán
- Possible Relatives: Betty*
- Breed: 100% Icelandic
(Asterisk indicates a deceased relative)
Birth of Kalina
Katina became pregnant in early spring of 1984 at SeaWorld San Diego. She had mated with a male named WinstonRamu III (Winston)
Ramu III was an Orca who resided at the now-defunct Windsor Safari Park in Berkshire, England between 1970 and 1976, and later, at SeaWorld San Diego in California between 1976 and 1986...
. Soon afterward, she was moved back to Sea World Ohio in Aurora, Ohio for the summer. While there, the trainers soon realized she was pregnant. Because of this, she was moved to Orlando in the end of the summer season. This is where she gave birth.
On September 26, 1985, Katina went into labor. A few hours later, she bore her first calf—a female, who was named Kalina. Although ten Orca calves had been born in captivity prior to Kalina, none of them had survived past a few weeks. This made Kalina the first Orca calf to be successfully born and raised in captivity
Captivity (animal)
Animals that live under human care are in captivity. Captivity can be used as a generalizing term to describe the keeping of either domesticated animals or wild animals. This may include for example farms, private homes and zoos...
, which made Katina the first successful mother. The success of the captive Orca breeding program began with Katina in 1985.
Katina's other calves and grandchildren
In early 1987, an adult male Orca named Kanduke arrived in Orlando. He and Katina soon mated. Katina bore her second calf on November 4, 1988. It was another female named Katerina. In early 1991, and at a very early age, Katerina was transferred out of Orlando. Katina would never see her daughter again. Katerina died on May 5, 1999 at SeaWorld San AntonioSeaWorld San Antonio
SeaWorld San Antonio is a marine mammal park, oceanarium, and animal theme park, located in the Westover Hills area of San Antonio, Texas. It is the largest of the three parks in the SeaWorld chain owned by SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment, a division of The Blackstone Group, and the world's...
in Texas
San Antonio, Texas
San Antonio is the seventh-largest city in the United States of America and the second-largest city within the state of Texas, with a population of 1.33 million. Located in the American Southwest and the south–central part of Texas, the city serves as the seat of Bexar County. In 2011,...
at 10.5 years of age.
A male named Tilikum
Tilikum (orca)
Tilikum , sometimes misspelled Tillikum, is a bull orca who lives in captivity at SeaWorld Orlando. He has sired many offspring, and has been involved in the deaths of three people. Following a year long hiatus after his last incident, Tilikum returned to performing at SeaWorld Orlando on 30 March...
came to SeaWorld in January of 1992. It wasn't long before Katina was pregnant again. She gave birth to her first son on September 9, 1993; the calf was named Taku. Just a few months prior to Taku's birth, Katina's first-born calf Kalina gave birth to her first calf, Keet
KEET
KEET is a digital-only public television station in Eureka, California, broadcasting locally on channel 11 as a PBS member station. Founded in 1969, the station is owned by Redwood Empire Public Television, Inc...
, on February 2, 1993, thus making Katina a grandmother. Keet was born in SeaWorld San Antonio, where Kalina resided at the time.
Katina's next calf came on December 27, 1996. It was a female and she was named Unna. Her fifth calf was a male born on August 25, 2002; he would later be named Ikaika. Unna, Ikaika, and Taku were all fathered by Tilikum.
Katina gave birth to her sixth calf on September 18, 2006. The calf appears to be in good health and is now appearing in shows with Katina. The calf is a female and has been named Nalani. The father has said to be Katina's son, Taku.
On October 9, 2010, Katina gave birth to her seventh calf and her third son, Makaio, just a few days after her first offspring Kalina died. He was sired by Tilikum, who had already fathered three of her previous children.
Besides Keet, Katina has three other grandchildren all born to Kalina and two great-grandchildren. Kalina has three other calves: Keto (male; born 1995), Tuar (male; born 1999), and Skyla
Skyla
Skyla is the stage name of Lucy Batty, an English dance singer from Altrincham.-Career:Skyla was signed by 3 Beat/AATW in 2008.She has been working along side producers Scott Rosser , Mike Di Scala and Nemesis....
(female; born 2004). She has another grandchild who is sired by her son Taku born to Takara
Takara
Takara Co., Ltd. was a Japanese toy company founded in 1955, that merged with another prominent Japanese toy company, Tomy Co., Ltd., on March 1, 2006 to form Takara Tomy, also known in English as TOMY Company Ltd....
named Trua. Keet, Kalina's oldest calf, has fathered two daughters of his own: Kalia (2004) and Halyn* (2005–2008), making Katina the first ever great-grandmother at SeaWorld. Keto, Kalina's second son, sired his first son Adan in 2010.
Katina currently
Katina is about 34 years old and is healthy and doing well. Measuring about 17 feet and weighing in at about 5,200 pounds, Katina is on the small side compared to most other females, but she is rather bulky. She is an excellent performer and is very reliable. She is one of their principal whales for performances and is used daily. Katina is generally very sweet-natured and patient and has never been involved in any known incidents with one of her handlers.Being the matriarch of the Orcas, Katina is rather dominant. She can sometimes, although rarely, be stubborn and refuse to perform. When this happens, usually all of the other Orcas follow suit.
Katina only lives with two of her six calves (Makaio and Nalani) and one of her grandchildren (Trua). She is always with her calf, but was also with Takara and Trua quite often up until Takara was transferred to SeaWorld San Antonio. A new female named Kayla arrived in Orlando from SeaWorld San Antonio. She and Katina spend a lot of time together. Seaworld announced on May 18, 2010 that Katina was pregnant again by Tilikum. She gave birth to Makaio at 7:28 pm on Saturday October 9, 2010. It was determined a male on October 18, 2010. As of December 2010 Makaio was 7 feet long and weighed approximately 550 pounds.