FACTS

- Nootka (NOOT-kah) means "little Anna" in Inuit.
- Likely born in the year 1966.
- Also known as Newtka, Knootka, and T5.
- 100% Transient orca and was once a member of T2 pod.

HISTORY

On March 1, 1970, a group of five transient orcas were rounded up in Pedder Bay, British Columbia, Canada. From the start, the captors knew these orcas were unique. A large male had a huge chunk missing from his dorsal, and his lower jaw jutted out further than his upper. He was dubbed Charlie Chin (T1). A female with a slender face was named Pointednose Cow (T2). Another female who had a badly scarred face was called Scarredjaw Cow (T3). Perhaps the most famous was a female given the name Chimo (T4). She had a rare form of albinism that made a great majority of her body stark white. The last orca was a female who seemed to not have any deformities. She was named Nootka (T5). Because they were transients (marine mammal hunters), they refused the fish offered to them. Slowly they were all starving, and on May 15, 1970, Scarredjaw Cow died from malnutrition. Soon after, the others started taking fish. On the night of October 27, 1970, Charlie Chin and Pointednosed Cow escaped after part of the net holding them was weighed down on one side leaving an opening. It is not known who did this, but the orcas were likely grateful.

Nootka and Chimo had been moved to Sealand of the Pacific on March 25, 1970. Because of her dominant behavior towards Chimo and a male named Haida, she was sold to the Japanese Deer Park in California. Later she was sold again to the Seven Seas in Texas. There her name was spelled Newtka. For her finale, she would jump through a flaming hoop. She wasn't treated well at either park, so her bad temperament grew worse and she could be unpredictable. She was once again sold (possibly in 1976 when Seven Seas closed), this time to MarineLand of Canada. She disliked the other orcas and was involved in a few incidents there.

Finally in April 1986, Nootka was sent to SeaWorld San Diego. Her name was respelled to Knootka, and her new trainers worked hard to earn her trust and rid her of that nasty temper. She settled in with the other orcas making friends with Kenau* and Kandu V*. She became a star performer, gracing her audience with her striking beauty.

Sadly on March 13, 1990, Nootka passed away due to pneumonia. Nootka was about 24-years-old.

TRANSFERS

March 1, 1970 - March 25, 1970 (Pedder Bay, Canada)
March 25, 1970 - ? (Sealand of the Pacific, Canada)
? - 1972 (Japanese Deer Park, USA)
1972 - 1975 (Seven Seas Texas, USA)
1975 - April 1986 (MarineLand of Canada, Canada)
April 1986 - March 13, 1990 (SeaWorld San Diego, USA)

HOW TO IDENTIFY

KNOWN FAMILY

Mother: T2/Pointednose Cow
Half-sisters: T2B/Pedder and T2C/Tasu
Half-brothers: T1/Charlie Chin and T2A/Bajo
Nieces: T2C1/Rocky (its sex is not known)
Nephews: T2C1/Rocky (its sex is not known)
Possible relatives: T3/Scarredjaw Cow* and T4/Chimo*

* = Deceased