Ruka

Ruka (pronounced ruu-KAH) was an approximately 21-year-old female Icelandic killer whale who lived at Nanki Shirahama Adventure World. She was captured in October 1981 from Iceland at approximately 2 years old. Ruka passed away due to traumatic shock on March 29th, 2000 at Adventure World.

Early Life and Capture[]

Ruka was captured in October of 1981 in southern Iceland with one other whale, either Nemo or Neptune. She was estimated to be around two years old at the time. She was briefly housed at Sædýrasafnið.^[1]

Life at the Hagenback Zoo[]

Around a month after her capture, Ruka was sold to James "Jim" Tiebor, operator of the dolphin supplier company the Florida Dolphin Show. She was leased to the Hagenback Zoo (Tierpark Hagenback) in Hamburg, Germany, becoming the first killer whale to be exhibited in Germany since Wally ten years prior. Her annual renting fee was over 250,000 Deutschmarks ($138,000 USD).^[2]

Life at Nanki Shirahama Adventure World[]

In 1985, Ruka was sold to Nanki Shirahama Adventure World in Japan, and arrived there on February 9th. There, she met the park's other orca, Benkei. Later that year, a young male orca captured in Taiji named Goro was brought to the park.

In 1988, a new orca stadium was built at the park, and the three whales were moved there.^[3] Benkei died the following year, and two new whales, Ran and Ai, were brought to the park in 1990. In 1995, another new orca stadium was built, and the four whales were moved there.^[3] Ai died later that year.

In 1997, three orcas captured in Taiji were purchased by Nanki Shirahama Adventure World. Two of the whales died shortly after capture and the surviving whale, Kyu, was introduced to Ruka in early 1998. The two whales were initially aggressive to one another, but eventually got along. Kyu was moved into the stadium with the rest of the park's whales in May of that year.^[4]

Death[]

Ruka died on March 29th, 2000 from traumatic shock.

Gallleries[]

• Photos of Ruka
• Videos of Ruka

References[]