FACTS

- Kyuquot (KY-yoo-cut) means "land of many winds" from the Nootka Tribe.
- Born tail first at 12:40 PST.
- 100% Icelandic orca.

HISTORY

On December 24, 1991, Christmas Eve, the Sealand of the Pacific staff prepared for an early Christmas present. One of their female orcas, Haida II*, had gone into labor around 11:30 PST. Another female, Nootka IV*, and the father of the baby, Tilikum, were moved into a separate pool. After an hour and ten minutes, just shortly before 13:00 PST, a 350 pound, 7 foot long calf was born. The baby was discovered to be a little male and was named Kyuquot.

There was deep concern if the baby was nursing properly since there was no way to view the whales underwater. Some believed that Sealand was not a proper place to have a baby orca. It wouldn't be a problem much longer. On February 20, 1991, when Haida was just seven months pregnant, trainer Katie Lee Byrne fell into the whales' pool where the three adults swarmed her and dragged her around the pool. Rescue efforts were made, but to no avail. After ten minutes, she had drowned. It was suggested the whales were playing, while other thoughts were that Haida may have been aggressive due to being pregnant. The trainers at Sealand never did waterworks with the whales. In September 1991, the three adults were up for sale. Both females were pregnant at the time.

SeaWorld bought all four whales. Tilikum was moved early in January 1992, to the Florida park. At the time, he was being held in a small holding pool at Sealand so as to keep him away from his first offspring. In February 1992, Nootka gave birth to a male that only lived for 33 days. Nootka, Haida, and Ky continued to live at Sealand until they were moved to SeaWorld in January 1993. Nootka joined Tilikum in Florida, while Haida and Ky were sent to the Texas park.

At SeaWorld San Antonio, Haida and Ky joined two other orcas: Kotar* and Kalina. In February, Kalina gave birth to Keet who became a playmate for little Ky. On November 20, 1994, Haida gave birth to a little girl. Sadly, she passed away after just 38 days. On April 1, 1995, Kotar passed away as well. Ky was now the oldest male orca at the park, and remains that way to this day.

Although several orcas were moved in and out of the Texas park, Haida and Ky stayed throughout the years. Haida remained the dominant female even with new females coming and going. Ky's life changed when Haida passed away on August 1, 2001.

On February 18, 2001, Keto joined the Texas whales after moving from the now closed SeaWorld Aurora. Winnie*, and older female, passed away on April 11, 2002. On December 7, 2002, Ky's half-sister, Unna, was moved to Texas from Florida. On April 24/25, 2004, Keet, Tuar, and Tekoa were moved to Texas.

On July 23, 2004, Ky was performing with trainer Steve Aibel when he began pushing him around and bowing on top of him. Aibel kept calm as other trainers tried to help him out of the water. Not once did Ky open his mouth or show any other aggression. Later Aibel said Ky may have been feeling his adolescent hormones. The incident eerily shadowed his parents' behavior back in 1991.

TRANSFERS

December 24, 1991 - January 8, 1993 (Sealand of the Pacific, Canada)
January 8, 1993 - Present (SeaWorld San Antonio, USA)

HOW TO IDENTIFY



KNOWN FAMILY

Mother: Haida II*
Father: Tilikum
Half-sisters: Nyar*, Unna, Kohana, Skyla, and Malia
Half-brothers: Taku*, Sumar, Tuar, Tekoa, Nakai, and Ikaika
Nieces: Nalani
Nephews: Trua

* = Deceased