#hatajiri bay
Gender:Female
Pod:N/A
Place of Capture: Hatajiri Bay, Japan
Date of Capture: February 9, 1997
Age at Capture: Approx. 5 years
A group of 10 Orcas were captured on February 9, 1997 in Hatajiri Bay in Japan. Five of the whales were released, while the remaining five whales were kept and sold to marine parks.
One of the females, known as Ku, was sold to the Taiji Whaling Museum. When she arrived, her health immediately began to deteriorate and she lost weight. She reportedly had several tumors that were removed after being discovered. She was sickly for about a year until she finally began to recover and eat properly.
Ku was soon placed with the Museum’s other female, named Nami. However, Nami was an aggressive whale, and the pair were separated as they did not get along. Ku was the friendlier whale who was often used to interact with guests, sometimes being touched by them.
In October 2003, Ku was sent to the Port of Nagoya Aquarium on a 5 year breeding loan. Ku was trained for Artificial Insemination and staff hoped she would become pregnant; but she disliked the procedure and it was stopped with her.
Ku performed alongside several smaller dolphins and was typically a very friendly whale. In the mid-2000’s, however, she was recorded lunging at a trainer standing on the slideout who had been reaching over into a bucket of fish.
In July 2008, Ku began refusing to eat and became very ill. She was moved to the medical pool where she slowly got better and recovered in August.
Unfortunately, on September 19, 2008, Ku was found dead at the bottom of the medical pool due to apparent heart failure. She had reportedly contracted a Herpes virus that weakened her immune system.
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Gender:Female
Pod:N/A
Place of Capture: Hatajiri Bay, Japan
Date of Capture: February 9, 1997
Age at Capture: Approx. 7 years
On February 9, 1997 in Hatajiri Bay in Japan, a group of ten Orcas were captured. Five were released while the remaining five were kept and sold to marine parks; two males and three females.
One female, named Asuka, was held at the Taiji Whaling Museum for a few days before being transferred to Izu-Mito Sea Paradise where she met the resident male, Tanouk.
The two got along well and staff hoped they would breed, but when Tanouk died in 2000, Asuka was kept alone and the breeding program was abandoned.
Asuka performed shows daily and spent the remainder of her life with a number of smaller dolphins.
Unfortunately, on September 19, 2007, Asuka died due to unknown causes.
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Gender:Male
Pod:N/A
Place of Capture: Hatajiri Bay, Japan
Date of Capture: February 9, 1997
Age at Capture: Approx. 5 years
A group of 10 Orcas were captured in Hatajiri Bay in Japan on February 9, 1997. Five of the whales were released while 3 females and 2 males were kept.
One male, later named Kyu, was sold to Nanki Shirahama Adventure World with an unnamed female and an unnamed male.
Unfortunately, the two unnamed whales died 4 months after their capture. Kyu was kept alone after their deaths.
In 1999, he began to participate in shows with his tankmates Ran, Ruka, and Goro; though Ruka died in 2000, leaving just the three of them.
When Kyu became sexually mature, he mated with Ran who gave birth to both her and Kyu’s first and only calf on August 26, 2004. However, the female calf was born premature and was born with a broken skull. She died 2 days after her birth, along with Ran who died the next day due to birth complications.
Less than a month later, Kyu also died on September 18, 2004 due to Bacterial Pneumonia.
It had been rumored that he suffered from ulcers as well as a weak immune system; though there are no reliable sources to confirm this.
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Gender:Female
Pod:N/A
Place of Capture: Hatajiri Bay, Japan
Date of Capture: February 9, 1997
Age at Capture: Approx. more than 9 years
On February 9, 1997, a group of ten Orcas were captured in Hatajiri Bay in Japan. While five of the whales were released, two males and three females were kept.
One unnamed female, who was thought to be pregnant due to her size, was sent to Nanki Shirahama Adventure World with both males - one unnamed, and the other known as Kyu.
The park already owned 3 Orcas who were apparently very curious about the newcomers.
In April 1997, the female allegedly suffered a miscarriage, though there are no credible sources to confirm this.
Finally, on June 17, 1997, the female died due to Bronchopneumonia after only 4 months in captivity. She died just 3 days after the unnamed male.
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Gender:Male
Pod:N/A
Place of Capture: Hatajiri Bay, Japan
Date of Capture: February 9, 1997
Age at Capture: Approx. 3 years
On February 9, 1997, a group of 10 Orcas were captured in Hatajiri Bay, Japan. Five whales were released while all three females as well as two males were kept.
One unnamed male was sent with an unnamed female and a male named Kyu to Nanki Shirahama Adventure World. Here, they were kept separate from the resident whales at the park.
Unfortunately, on June 14, 1997, the unnamed male died due to a Systemic Viral Infection after only 4 months in captivity.
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