Inouk

Inouk (pronounced IN-ook) was a 25-year-old male Icelandic killer whale who lived at Marineland Antibes, France. He was born there tail-first on February 23rd, 1999. His mother was Sharkane and his father was Kim II. For most of his life, he lived with three other killer whales; his full sister Wikie, and her sons, Moana and Keijo. Inouk passed away due to subacute fibrinous enteritis and peritonitis on the morning of March 28th, 2024 at Marineland Antibes.

Birth & Early Life[]

Inouk was born at Marineland Antibes on February 23rd, 1999. He was the third calf to be successfully born at the park. At the time of his birth, five other killer whales were living at Marineland. His parents, Sharkane and Kim II, his full sister Shouka, half-brother Valentin, and Freya, an unrelated female. Two years after the birth of Inouk, Sharkane gave birth to her second calf, a female who was given the name Wikie. When Inouk was three years old, Shouka was moved to Six Flags Discovery Kingdom.

Life at Marineland Antibes[]

Just before Inouk's tenth birthday, his mother passed away from an infection caused by Bacillus pyocyanique.

Death[]

On March 28th, 2024, Marineland Antibes announced that Inouk had passed away that morning. His cause of death was not immediately apparent and but necropsy results revealed that he passed away due to subacute fibrinous enteritis and peritonitis. His death occured after he ingested a metallic foreign body weighing less than 2 grams.^[1]

Scientific Studies[]

Inouk was involved in four public scientific studies.

1. Assessment of current dietary intake of organochlorine contaminants and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in killer whales (Orcinus orca) through direct determination in a group of whales in captivity.
2. Captive bottlenose dolphins and killer whales harbor a species-specific skin microbiota that varies among individuals.
3. Stable isotopes of captive cetaceans (killer whales and bottlenose dolphins).
4. Experimental evidence for action imitation in killer whales (Orcinus orca).

Transfer History[]

Inouk was never transferred out of Marineland Antibes.

Galleries[]

• Photos of Inouk
• Videos of Inouk

References[]