FACTS

- Kasatka (KAH-saht-ka) means "darling" and "killer whale" in Russian.
- Likely born in the year 1977.
- First orca to successfully conceive and give birth through artificial insemination.
- Bore three successful offspring; all are alive.

HISTORY

In October 1978, a young, female orca was captured off the southeast coast of Iceland near Tvisker. She and two other orcas, Kotar* and an unnamed female*, were sold and flown to SeaWorld San Diego. The young female was named Kasatka.

During the summers between 1979 and 1986, Kasatka and another female named Katina lived at SeaWorld Aurora. In November 1984, Katina was transferred to the Florida park. A female named Kahana* joined Kasatka in Ohio. In October 1987, both were moved to the California park.

In February 1988, Kasatka was transferred to the new SeaWorld San Antonio. Just nine months later in November, Kenau* gave birth to Kayla. Kasatka acted as a midwife during the labor and birth. In early 1990, Kasatka and Kotar mated. Then on February 13, 1990, Kasatka was moved back to California.

On July 9, 1991, Kasatka went into labor with her first calf. Shortly after 12:00 PST, a little girl was born. The baby was named Takara. Kasatka proved to be a great mother. She also showed to have a gestation period of about 18 months.

On June 12, 1999, Kasatka was involved in an incident with a male trainer where she grabbed his leg and tried to push him out of the pool. Luckily, he was not seriously hurt.

In February 2000, Kasatka made history by becoming the first marine mammal artificially inseminated. The father was a male named Tilikum at the Florida park. This would be her first calf in over 10 years. On September 1, 2001, Kasatka went into labor for a second time. During the two hour labor, Takara remained at her side providing comfort. At 20:50 PST, Kasatka gave birth to a son. He was named Nakai later on after a poll was conducted.

A matter of months later, on May 3, 2002, Takara gave birth to her first calf named Kohana. Kasatka was now a grandmother. In April 2004, Takara and Kohana were moved to the Florida park.

On December 21, 2004, Kasatka became a mother for the third time to another daughter named Kalia.

TRANSFERS

October 1978 - April 1984 (SeaWorld San Diego and SeaWorld Aurora, USA)
April 1984 - November 1984 (SeaWorld Aurora, USA)
November 1984 - February 1988 (SeaWorld Orlando, SeaWorld San Diego, and SeaWorld Aurora, USA)
February 1988 - February 1990 (SeaWorld San Antonio, USA)
February 1990 - Present (SeaWorld San Diego, USA)

HOW TO IDENTIFY



KNOWN FAMILY

Daughters: Takara and Kalia
Sons: Nakai
Granddaughters: Kohana
Grandsons: Trua

* = Deceased