Young orca Kamea (11) dies at SeaWorld

The youngest orca at SeaWorld San Antonio, named Kamea, died at 11 years old. The park in the United States said she passed away from an undisclosed illness despite veterinary care.

In the wild, female orcas can live up to 50–80 years, making Kamea’s age very young in comparison. “Despite the round the clock tireless efforts of our animal care and veterinary teams, she succumbed to an illness surrounded by those who loved and cared for her deeply,” SeaWorld’s statement read.

Story of orca Kamea

Kamea was born at the park and was kept in a tank with her mother, Takara (33), sister Sakari (15), and two male orcas.

Kamea came from a family of orcas who have lived in captivity for many years. Her grandmother, Kasatka, was taken from the ocean as a young calf and spent almost 40 years in small tanks at SeaWorld.

She performed in shows and was used for breeding. Kasatka died in 2017 from a severe lung infection.

Kamea’s mother, Takara, was born at SeaWorld and has never lived in the wild. SeaWorld also used her for breeding. She still lives at the San Antonio park after Kamea’s death.

Kamea’s father, Kshamenk, was taken from the ocean in 1992 and now lives alone in a small tank at Mundo Marino in Argentina.

Animal welfare groups respond

“In nature, Kamea could have lived for up to 80 years. In their ocean homes, orcas stay with their tight-knit family pods for life, diving deep, traveling vast distances, hunting cooperatively, and communicating with a unique dialect passed down through generations,” People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) highlighted said.  

“They are highly intelligent, social animals with distinct personalities and rich cultures. SeaWorld denied Kamea all of it,” the animal welfare organization added.

PETA also asked SeaWorld to scatter her ashes in the ocean and to move the remaining orcas to seaside sanctuaries.

Orca that died at SeaWorld

Kalina – 25 Years

Kalina, nicknamed “Baby Shamu,” was the first orca calf to survive in SeaWorld. Born on September 26, 1985, she grew into a show star. She died on October 4, 2010, at age 25 from an infection.

Baby Shamu II – 11 Days

Born at SeaWorld San Diego on January 5, 1986, Baby Shamu II had a hopeful start. But just 11 days later, she passed away from heart/respiratory issues. Her death highlighted the vulnerability of newborn orcas in captivity.

Sumar – 12 Years

Sumar was born on May 14, 1998, at SeaWorld Orlando. At just 12, she died on September 7, 2010, from a twisted intestine.

Taku – 14 Years

Born September 9, 1993, Taku lived in Orlando. He passed away on October 17, 2007, at 14, reportedly due to pneumonia—or possibly West Nile virus. His death raised questions about illness risks in pools.

Unna – 18 Years

Unna was born in Orlando on December 27, 1996. On December 21, 2015, at just 18, she died of a bacterial infection. Her early death added to worries about waterborne diseases that affect captive orcas.

Kandu V – 15 Years Old

Early Life & Capture
Kandu V was captured off Iceland around age three in September 1977 and brought to SeaWorld San Diego. After training, she performed across SeaWorld parks and became known as a reliable show orca.

Motherhood & Tension
In 1988, Kandu V gave birth to a calf named Orkid. Though she cared for Orkid, tensions grew between Kandu and Corky, an older female orca who formed a bond with Orkid. This rivalry heated up in the tanks.

Fatal Incident
On August 21, 1989, during a public show, Kandu charged Corky in an aggressive display of dominance. Missing Corky, she slammed into a wall in a hidden holding area. The impact shattered her upper jaw and severed arteries, causing massive bleeding.

Crowds watched in shock as blood gushed into the tank. Kandu bled to death over 45 minutes. Witnesses described the scene: “It wasn’t just a little bit of blood. It was all over the place. It dirtied the whole pool. At one point, you just knew she was going to die.”

Aftermath
Kandu’s tragic death during routine behavior, a dominance fight, raised major concerns. SeaWorld claimed it was a normal orca interaction, while critics argued the confined space intensified such aggression.

Her calf, Orkid, was taken in by Corky, though she remained visibly traumatized. For weeks, she swam alone, calling out in grief.

Kasatka – 40 Years

Captured from Iceland in 1978, Kasatka spent nearly 40 years performing and breeding at SeaWorld San Diego. She died on August 15, 2017, after a long struggle with pneumonia. Her story spans decades of captivity and change.

Tilikum – 35 Years

Tilikum, nicknamed Tilly, was captured around 1983 from Iceland and became one of SeaWorld’s most famous orcas. He died on January 6, 2017, of bacterial pneumonia at approximately 35 years old. He was the subject of the documentary Blackfish.

Kayla – 30 Years

Born on November 26, 1988, Kayla lived in SeaWorld Orlando and later San Antonio. She died on January 28, 2019, at age 30 from lung disease. Her story underscores that even middle-aged captive orcas face frequent health threats.

Nakai – 21 Years

Nakai was born at SeaWorld San Diego in 2001 and later moved to Orlando. He died in August 2022 from an infection around age 21.

55 Orca deaths

Beyond the direct deaths within its tanks, the full scope of mortality linked to SeaWorld’s orca operations amounts to 55 whales since it was founded in 1964.

This includes 37 orcas who died at its facilities, 14 stillbirths or miscarriages after failed breeding attempts and an additional four deaths tied to the controversial capture operations in the Pacific Northwest.