Credits: Social Media
How a SeaWorld whale died in 1989 after breaking its jaw in a fight
A Killer Whale called Kandu V died in one of the most horrific ways following a bloody fight with a fellow captured Orca at SeaWorld.�
Over the decades, National Geographic estimated that over 400 million people had watched Killer Whale shows at various parks across the world. The highly controversial pastime has been under more scrutiny in recent years, arguably due to the 2013 documentary Blackfish, which covered the plight of the majestic creatures.�
What happened to Kandu V?
On August 21, 1989, a 14-year-old Kandu V was performing in SeaWorld San Diegos famed Shamu Show alongside another female Killer Whale called Corky. During the 4 pm show, trainers recalled seeing the Kandu, 4,600 pounds, charging into 7,000 pounds Corky with her mouth open.�
The impact from the blow broke Kandus upper jaw, causing hemorrhaging of major arteries. Even now, images and video of the whale spurting blood from her blow hole are available on the internet. It took her 45 minutes to die.�
At the time, SeaWorld veterinarian Jim McBain said: The altercation was initiated by Kandu. She was asserting her dominance by going after Corky with her mouth open. Its common behavior. For the survival of any species, the stronger animal has to rule.
The death was an unexpected shock, but the altercation was not a rare event at all. It was normal behavior.
Her death was criticized by animal rights groups.�
Despite McBains assertion that such behavior was normal , animal rights groups drew comparisons between Kandus death and the many other violent incidents of Killer Whales in captivity.�
At the time, Benjamin Deeble, a Greenpeace activist, told The New York Times: “Even a four-million-gallon enclosure is a tiny pool for killer whales because these animals in the wild swim over a hundred miles a day. An orca in captivity is like an eagle in a parakeet cage, except in this instance they maybe tried to put two eagles in a parakeet cage, and one dead animal is the result.
“It’s absolutely wrong that the people who run these enterprises are really preying on people’s interest and attraction to these rather exotic animals, added Petas Ingrid Newkirk.�
Kandu V, as her name suggests, was only one of five other whales to bear the name at SeaWorld. Kandu one and two both died of Pneumonia before they reached 20 years old, while Kandu three passed away of kidney failure at the age of five. Kanduke, a male, died at the age of 19 from the first marine mammal case of St. Louis Encephalitis.�
In the wild, male Killer Whales typically live up to 40 years, while females live to 50.�
