Jan
15
From the Niagara Falls Review:
Marineland had lost its matriarch killer whale.
Nootka died Jan 8.
She had been at the popular tourist attraction for more than 27 years.
“We were heartbroken, absolutely heartbroken,” said Marineland spokeswoman Ann Marie Rondinelli.
“We don’t like to play favourites but she was definitely loved by everybody,” she said.
The female killer whale was believed to be around 40 years old and had given birth to a number of calves over the years.
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I am so saddened by this. My husband and I have not been to the park the last couple of years but I remember Nootka and she was the whale I stood in line to touch and feed over at Friendship Cove. The way I remember this is how close the name sounded to Shouka which at the time, was the Orca at Six Flags in Ohio (no longer).
What a shame for the park to lose two whales in the last few years. Was there a baby born that was lost as well?
Nootka was a grand lady.
This sucks…
that whale kicked butt!
splash sessions were amazing when she was in them.
i’m not sure but i think athena is either her daughter or Kiska’s daughter.
Who’s name is gonna be on the blow up thing in the shop now?!
It’s a real ashame…
The park seems to be dropping killer whales like flies. They can spit out a Beluga Whale like nothing, but their orcas just keep on dropping.
What is it? Captivity? Age? There will most definately be an uproar from PETA, you can bet on that much (considering their past history).
For a park of Marineland, they might want to change their name to BelugaLand soon.
I have a pin with her name on it and her in a bonet now this amy seem wired but when I looked at it I cried today. This deeply hurts me I have gone to the park every year at least once a year since I was 1 year old and goo old Nootka and the late Kandu were a annual sight! She will be missed bless you Nootka and Kandu!
Sad to hear something like this
what they need is a male (if they don’t already have one)
I think that two whales they have now (Athena and Ikaika) are the ones that were on the slow splash side. (not as WOWing).
anyway, for Marineland development, they should purchase an inverting thrill ride like cliffhanger or shockwave at wonderland to boost up there thrill points.
Ikaika (Ike) is a male. They got him from Seaworld in exchange for a bunch of Belugas. Apparently it will still be a couple of years before Ike is ready to mate.
How long has he (Ike) been there?
How long has any of them been there?
(Athena is a baby)
Ike’s been at Marineland since November 2006, Athena was born in August 2004 to Kiska and Kiska arrived in 1979. Nootka came in 1981. I’m gonna miss that girl … lots of great memories.
1979! wow, Kiska’s been there a long time! So has Nootka!
wow…
Ike’s only been there for 1 year? i thought he’s been there longer!
No, Ike hasn’t been there too long
Ikaika only arrived a little over a year ago in exchange for 3 male belugas (that went to SeaWorld Orlando). Once Ike is old enough to mate, it is hoped that they’ll be more calves to come. I’m just praying that both Kiska and Athena survive because with the calf death rate so high, it worries me. Athena is the only living baby left.
I am truly saddened by Nootka’s death, I will miss that girl forever. I wonder what she died of, I hope it wasn’t painful. She was a beautiful whale.
How old is Ikaika?
Ikaika was born in 2002, hes 6 years old.
Justine, I’ll do a posting about your site in a week or so. But I thought I let you know that your info on Nootka V on the timeline page still says she’s alive.
[...] to TracieCat and Chris who both left comments on the “Whale dies at Marineland” post. They were quoted in Niagara This week yesterday. In an opinion piece called [...]
Did you know that Athena is no longer in the friendship cove? She is presumed to be dead. It is the guests that they discovered she was missing. Right now, there is only Kiska, her mother and Ikaika left at Marineland Ontario.
I hope that Athena is not in the warehouse…
I’m so sad about it…
I didn’t know that. Interesting…
I’ve asked a few people who might know something, and no one knows anything. We’re all trying to find out…
Kiska and Ikaika ARE going to mate soon!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Athena is infact dead…May her spirit live in Kiska’s next calf!
Athena died on Sunday.
How did you know it was Sunday?
Rather than having comments on this old post, I created a new post with some links, and would ask that comments be left there…
Athena, orca/killer whale at Marineland, apparently has died
yes it is a shame.a shame that a beautiful animal was captured in the wild and forced to splash you morons. do you not understand? she was a free creature,she was enslaved and she died a slave. spend your money,then leave.she stayed and swam in a miniscule pond day after day. you people make me sick.
You all must know that Ikaika’s dad (Tillkum)sired Ky at age 8!!
So he will surely and succesfully mate with Kiska in winter 2010-2011:D!!!!
You must know MLC orcas are treated just like the SW orcas!Kandu had a recessive gene unfortunately and his calves all died before age 16
…
Kiska is a MLC survivor!She is sure to live much longer than all other orcas and she will have a calf maybe at age 34!Kiskaika is their couple celebrity name!!!
Thats a weird Name!