FACTS

- Sumar (SOO-mar) means "summer" in Icelandic.
- Born tail first at 9:59 EDT.
- 25% Transient 75% Icelandic orca.

HISTORY

On May 14, 1998, Taima at SeaWorld Orlando went into labor for the first time. Within hours, a healthy 7 foot and 350 lbs calf was born. The father was Tilikum. Taima was only a baby herself, just two months shy of her 8th birthday. After a few weeks, a blood test was done and the calf was identified as a male, so his trainers named him Sumar.

Taima started out as a good mother, but all that changed in just three months. During a performance, Taima turned on Sumar by swatting him with her tail and throwing him onto the trainers' stage. She proceeded to attack him by pinning him to the wall and biting him. The show was cancelled and trainers pulled Taima off Sumar with a harness. The two were kept apart from then on. On March 8, 1999, Sumar was moved to SeaWorld San Diego. Another male, Keto, was sent along with him.

Upon his arrival, Sumar was taken in by older female Corky II. The two often swam in mother/calf position. Even one of the dominant females, Orkid, allowed the little boy to playfully rake her with his teeth. Sumar's stay was brief when he, Keto, and Keto's brother Keet were sent to the Ohio park on April 15, 2000.

On November 8, 2000, Sumar's brother, Tekoa, was born. Unfortunately, Tekoa would also suffer from Taima's aggression. It is not known why she acts this way towards her calves (she is very sweet otherwise), but perhaps in the future if Sumar and Taima meet again, it will be a peaceful reunion.

In January 2001, the Busch Entertainment Corporation reached an agreement with Six Flags, Inc. to sell the Ohio park to the adjacent Six Flags park. SeaWorld still owned their orcas, so on February 15, 2001, Keet was sent back to California. Sumar followed on February 18th, and Keto was sent to SeaWorld San Antonio.

TRANSFERS

May 14, 1998 - March 8, 1999 (SeaWorld Orlando, USA)
March 8, 1999 - April 15, 2000 (SeaWorld San Diego, USA)
April 15, 2000 - February 18, 2001 (SeaWorld Aurora, USA)
February 18, 2001 - Present (SeaWorld San Diego, USA)

HOW TO IDENTIFY



KNOWN FAMILY

Mother: Taima
Father: Tilikum
Sisters: Malia
Half-sisters: Nyar*, Unna, Kohana, and Skyla
Brothers: Tekoa
Half-brothers: Kyuquot, Taku*, Tuar, Nakai, and Ikaika
Aunts: Katerina* and Nyar*
Nieces: Nalani
Nephews: Trua
Grandmothers: Gudrun*
Grandfathers: Kanduke*
Midwife: Kalina?

* = Deceased