Orky

Orky. Photo provided by Keane Arase, year unknown.

Orky (*pronounced or-KEE*) was an approximately 6-to-7-year-old male Northern resident killer whale who lived at Marineland of the Pacific. He was captured on July 25th, 1967 from Shushartie Bay, British Columbia at approximately 4-to-5 years old. Orky passed away due to pneumonia and influenza between July and August 1969 at Marineland of the Pacific.

## Early Life

Orky was found to be a member of the I11 Pod, and it is unknown which matriline he belonged to.

## Capture

On July 25th, 1967, the crew of the seiner, *Tulcrest*, were making their set in Shushartie Bay, British Columbia, when members of the I11 Pod swam alongside them. Most whales came away unscathed, however, one young male swam into the net and remained there. The two fishermen towed their catch into a makeshift pen to hold the young male. They were approached by a representative of Marineland of the Pacific and offered an undisclosed amount for the killer whale which they took. Vancouver Aquarium also reportedly bid on the animal but was outbidded by the Californian oceanarium. The following Sunday, the still unnamed killer whale was moved from his temporary pen in Shushartie Bay to Hardy Bay where he was then transported to the airport to make the journey to California.

## Life at Marineland of the Pacific

Orky soon arrived at Marineland of the Pacfic. After arriving at the airport, he was trucked to his new home and subsequently airlifted into a 60 ft long, 175,000 gallon tank. It is reported that he settled in well and adapted to his environment. A year later in early May, Marineland welcome two more killer whales, also from the Northern Resident population, named Snorky and Corky. The two newcomers were placed in a seperate tank to Orky, but park handlers note that the three communicate to each other with whistles. Orky would begin performing with Corky in due time.

## Death

Orky passed away from pneumonia and influenza, on either July 22nd or August 3rd in 1969. With this inconsistency for his date of death, Orky either survived just shy of 2 years in captivity, or just a few days over 2 years.

## Transfer History

Orky's Transfer History
 Shushartie Bay Sea Pen, British Columbia
 Port Hardy Sea Pen, British Columbia

## Behavioral Incidents

Orky is reported to have pushed Marineland curator, John Prescott, while he was in the water. The curator also mentions that Orky's size could potentially lead to serious injury.

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Orky, Killer Whale, Reaches Marineland (Palos Verdes Peninsula News August 9 1967)
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 (1967) 'Whale of a Set', North Island Gazette, 2 August, pg. 1
3. ↑ Olesiuk, P. O., Ford, J. K. B. F., & Ellis, G. M. E. (2005). Life History and Population Dynamics of Northern Resident Killer Whales (Orcinus orca) in British Columbia. ResearchGate. Life History and Population Dynamics of Northern Resident Killer Whales (Orcinus orca) in British Columbia
4. ↑ Killer Whales Corky, Snorky Join Orky at Marineland (Palos Verdes Peninsula News May 15 1968)
5. ↑ 'Killer Whales (Orcas) that Died in Captivity by Date of Death'
6. ↑ Duffield & Miller: Demographic features of killer whales in oceanaria in the United States and Canada, 1965-1987 (1988) Pg 299, Orky is individual no. 8
7. ↑ Functional anatomy of marine mammals Harrison et al. 1972 p. 425
8. ↑ Kingsport News, November 16, 1967