Bjossa
female
captured: Nov. 1980
capture place: Iceland
death date: Oct. 8, 2001
death place:
length: 18 feet
weight: 5,200 lbs

Bjossa was captured with two other whales, a female named Vigga and a male named Finna. Finna and Bjossa were both sent to the Vancouver Aquarium in British Columbia, Canada following capture. The other orca, Vigga, was sent to Marine World California, she was deceased on 8/14/2000. When the two orcas arrived in Vancouver, they met up with another male orca named, Hyak II, who was captured off the coast of British Columbia, Canada in April 1968. The three lived together up until the death of Hyak in Feb. 1991. Finna later died on Oct. 6, 1997. Finna spent all of his captive life with Bjossa.

Bjossa mothered three calves while she was in Vancouver, none are alive.
Bjossa gave birth to her first calf, a female, on Nov. 13, 1988. The father was Hyak. The baby girl died on Dec. 4, 1988 after Bjossa failed to nurse her correctly.

Bjossa gave birth to her second calf, a female named K'yosha, on Sep. 30, 1991. Again, the father was Hyak. This little calf lived the longest out of Bjossa's three calves. Bjossa still would not nurse the calf so the staff intervened 3 weeks after birth and K'yosha had to be fed by hand. Still that did not work and she died three months after birth on Jan. 4, 1992.

Bjossa's third and final calf, another female, was born on March 8, 1995. Sadly the calf died just minutes after birth due to labor complications. The father of this calf was Finna.

After all three of her pregnancies failed, she was put on birth control. She was the first orca to be put on birth control. Taima (SWF) is now on it.

After Finna died in 1997 Bjossa had no orca companions up until her move to SWC. She lived with a Pacific White-sided dolphin named White-Wings, who died in January of 2002, who had been a companion to both her and Finna for many years. White-Wings lived longer than any of the orcas she lived with. She lived about thirty-six years in captivity.
Because Bjossa did not have orca companions in Vancouver the aquarium decided to transfer her to SWC, where she would be in the company of eight other orcas.

Bjossa had health problems prior to her move to SWC. A respiratory infection developed in January 2000, and she was taken off public display. She recovered and the aquarium announced the decision to end the display of orcas in June of 2000 and that Bjossa would be sent to SWC where she would have other orcas to keep her company.
Bjossa arrived at SWC on April 22, 2001 early before the park opened. She spent her first few days at SWC in the husbandry pool, where she could view the other orcas through the gates. Soon she met Corky, and they instantly became friends. Her favorite two orcas were Sumar and Corky. Corky and Bjossa really got along well. They were seen frequently swimming together. Often as they swam, Sumar would join them. Sumar could often be seen swimming under Bjossa, in the mother/calf position. Bjossa could sometimes even be seen swimming under Corky in the mother/calf position.
While Bjossa was at SWC, she became an interactive whale. She could be seen spending some time at the acrylic interacting with guests. I had the privilege on a few occasions to interact with the beautiful Bjossa.
Bjossa started to perform in shows at SWC; she did simple behaviors like sliding out and bowing. Trainers did not get in the water with her because she had no previous experiences with water work.

In Aug. of 2001, Bjossa started showing signs of illness. She was put in the husbandry pool with Corky and Sumar to keep her company. Corky and Sumar were taken out sometimes to swim around, but most of the time they stayed with Bjossa. Bjossa stayed in that pool for a little while, until she was moved to Animal care (now the Commerson's dolphin's pool) so she could be watched very carefully. She spent the next few months back there alone. She kept acting as if she was getting better. Sadly, it took a turn for the worst, and she died on Monday, October 8, 2001.


Bjossa is missed by all who knew her, but now she is reunited with her family, Finna, Hyak, and her three little calves, where they can forever swim free.


Click here for pictures of Bjossa at SWC



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