Ramu IV

Ramu IV. Photo provided by Valentin666.

Ramu IV *(pronounced RAH-moo)*, also known as Ramu II in Australian media, was an approxiamtely 2-year-old Southern resident killer whale who lived at Marineland of Australia. He was captured on August 8th, 1970 from Penn Cove, Washington at approximately 3 years old. Ramu passed away due to a pulmonary abscess on August 12th, 1971 at Marineland of Australia.

## Early Life & Capture

Ramu IV was a part of the Southern Resident population of killer whales. His mother and pod were unknown. On August 8th 1970, all three pods of the Southern Resident pods were corralled into Puget Sound by Don Goldsberry and Ted Griffin of Namu Inc. Ramu IV was captured alongside six other young whales, Clovis, Jumbo, Lil' Nooka, Winston, Chappy, and Tokitae (also known as Lolita).

All seven of the killer whales were then moved to Seattle Marine Aquarium after the capture. There, they were sold off to buyers from across the world. Ramu IV was bought by David Brown, director and curator of Marineland of Australia to replace their original Ramu, who was captured in 1969 and died in May of 1970. Before being moved to Marineland of Australia, Ramu II was temporarily transported to an oceanarium in San Francisco to wait his further flight to Australia.

## Life at Marineland of Australia

Ramu IV arrived at Marineland of Australia on October 7th 1970. Prior to his flight, he was fitted for the canvas sling and given antibiotics ahead of the 16 hour flight. Upon arriving, Ramu was housed with a dolphin. Marineland's director, David Brown, spoke highly of the killer whale's need for social interactions and spoke of plans to train Ramu to perform tricks. Placing Ramu with the dolphin was also partially to ensure he would feel more at home and would eat.

Over the next few months, Ramu IV improved but also had some health issues that persisted. At one stage he went off his food and his skin lost its sleek appearance. In turn, he was put onto doses of ampicillin that were given every six hours. It was shown through test results he had a chronic lung infection but was showing signs of recoving. Speaking with Brown again, he recounted that Ramu IV would allow trainers to place their heads in his jaws and allow people to ride him.

## Death

On August 12th 1971, *The Sydney Morning Herald* reported that Ramu IV had passed away from a massive pulmonary abcess. The article also stated that it had been the second loss for Marineland as their first killer whale had died the previous year from a gastric ulcer. Ramu IV was the last killer whale to be held at Marineland of Australia, and survived a total of 10 months and 5 days in captivity.

## Galleries

* **Photos** of Ramu IV
* **Videos** of Ramu IV

## Transfer History

Ramu IV's Transfer History
 Penn Cove Sea Pen, Washington
 Seattle Marine Aquarium, Washington
 Unnamed facility, San Francisco

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Pollard, S. (2014). Puget Sound Whales for Sale: The Fight to End Orca Hunting (First American Edition. ed.). The History Press.
2. ↑ Ulcer Kills Whale
3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Australian Fisheries (Dec, 1970)
4. ↑ Australian Fishers (Aug, 1971)
5. ↑ "Second killer whale dies"