Katina, a 50-year-old orca, has died at SeaWorld Orlando in Florida, the United States. She is the 46th orca to die in SeaWorld’s care since the marine park began keeping orcas.
Katina was one of the oldest orcas in captivity and had spent over four decades at SeaWorld. She was captured in Iceland in 1978 when she was just two years old.
SeaWorld announced her death on Saturday and said she had faced serious health problems in the past few months. The cause of death has not yet been confirmed, but SeaWorld said it will do a full examination.
Animal rights organization People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) responded to the news by calling for the release of the remaining orcas at SeaWorld into seaside sanctuaries.
PETA said Katina’s death is “another tragic reminder of the cruelty of captivity.”
Over the years, activists have criticized SeaWorld for keeping orcas in small tanks. The animals are far from the natural ocean environments they need.
Orcas in the wild live in complex family groups and swim long distances every day. In captivity, they often show signs of stress, illness, and depression.
SeaWorld stopped its orca breeding program in 2016 after public pressure and the release of the documentary Blackfish. However, the park still keeps orcas for shows and display.
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