Facility: Adventure World
First Orca Held: Kianu, who lived 12 years in captivity. Just over 2 were spent at Adventure World.
Last Orca Held: Goro
Total Orcas Held: 13
Deaths: 13 (and 1 miscarriage)
Average Age at Death: 13 (including infant deaths), 14.25 (excluding infant deaths)
Births: 1 (and on miscarriage)
Orcas From Wild: 12
Years Active: 1978-2005 (orca program)
Notable Facts: Not a lot is known about the Japanese Park, which began it’s orca program after importing Kianu from the United states in 1978. The park had many females and males mixed over the years, but only one pregnancy has been recorded. Female orca Ran, gave birth prematurely to a female calf. The calf only lived a couple of days, as it was born with a fractured skull Ran died shortly after from birth complications. After two deaths within days, the park was left with two orcas. Kyu died just a month after, and only one orca was left, male Goro. Goro lived 4 months alone before dying from pneumonia. The last four months of Goro’s live were the only time in his life when he was isolated from other whales. After his death, the park never obtained other whales and the orca program has since ended. During it’s run, the park obtained orcas from the infamous Taiji drive slaughter, including three orcas from the Taiji 5, one of whom was pregnant and suffered an unconfirmed miscarriage. The only one to survive longer than a year was Kyu, who lived 7 years in captivity. The park is still very popular and open today, without orcas on display. The orca tank now houses other large dolphins.
Photo Credits: First photo by Kimmy Vengeance, second by blue waters, third by Dionne Descharmes, fourth by EmilyOrca, fifth from skaana forum, and the last by Tigger Photos belong to their respective owners, and will be taken down upon request.
