Sakari

Sakari. Photo provided by floppyfins.photography,

### Half-Siblings

Kyuquot, *Nootka IV's Calf (1992)*, *Taku*, *Nyar*, *Nootka IV's Stillborn (1994)*, *Gudrun's Stillborn (1996)*, *Unna*, *Kalina's Stillborn (1997)*, *Sumar*, Tuar, Tekoa, *Haida II's Unborn Calf (2001)*, *Nakai*, Ikaika, *Skyla*, *Taima's Miscarriage (2005)*, Trua, Malia, *Taima's Stillborn (2010)*, Makaio, *Takara's Miscarriage (2012)*, Kamea, *Kyara*

### Aunts & Uncles

*Kahana's Miscarriage (1990)*, *Kenau's Unborn Calf (1991)*, *Samoa's Stillborn (1992)*, Keet, *Haida II's Calf (1994)*, Keto, *Nakai*, Kalia, Makani

### Nieces & Nephews

Trua, *Unna's Stillborn (2006)*, Nalani, *Unna's Miscarriage (2009)*, Adán, *Victoria*, *Kyara*

### Cousins

Kalia, *Halyn*, *Unna's Stillborn (2006)*, *Unna's Miscarriage (2009)*, Adán, *Victoria*, *Amaya*, *Ula*

Sakari *(pronounced suh-KAR-ee)* is a 12-year-old female Icelandic killer whale who lives at SeaWorld San Antonio. She was born there tail-first at 7:13 am CST on January 7th, 2010. Her mother is Takara and her father is Tilikum. Sakari was conceived at SeaWorld Orlando and her mother was transferred to San Antonio while pregnant.

## Birth and Early Life

Before Sakari was born, Takara gave birth to 2 calves: Kohana in 2002 and Trua in 2005. In 2008, Takara and Trua were introduced to began to spend time with an adult male named Tilikum.  Takara became pregnant later that year. In February of 2009, Takara and at least 2 sea lions were moved to SeaWorld San Antonio.

On the morning of January 7th, 2010, at around 6:20 am CST, trainers first spotted Sakari's tail flukes. Takara was in labor. At 7:15 am, only about 52 minutes later, Takara gave birth.   She quickly escorted her daughter to the surface for her first breath of air.  At the time of Sakari's birth, 5 other whales lived at the park: Unna, Sakari's half-sister, Keet, Sakari's maternal half-uncle, and Kyuquot and Tuar, Sakari's half-brothers.

As always Takara was a very attentive mother, and Sakari began to nurse after less than 10 hours after her birth. Takara taught her to navigate around the tank safely and within 2 weeks Sakari had learned how to go through gates. She soon met Unna. The three whales were quickly swimming together and within 24 hours Takara had even allowed Unna to directly interact with Sakari. A month after her birth, Sakari met Keet, who had experience with young calves, and 2 months after that she met Ky and Tuar.

At around 2 months old Sakari began to interact with trainers and allowed them to touch her, although Takara would become agitated if the trainers touched her tail flukes. At 3 months old she even began to eat small amounts of fish.  Sakari eventually grew to seemingly enjoy trainer interaction, and would often solicit it from trainers even from a very early age.

## Life at SeaWorld San Antonio

In 2011, Takara was artificially inseminated with sperm from Kshamenk. She became pregnant with Sakari's younger sibling, although she suffered a miscarriage a few months later in 2012. Takara was artificially inseminated and became pregnant again shortly after. Keet was also moved away during this year.

In the early morning hours of December 6th, 2013, Takara gave birth to Sakari's younger sister, Kamea.  Although Sakari was not present for Kamea's birth, less than 2 weeks later Sakari, along with Unna, met her new little sister. The introduction went well.  A few weeks later, Kamea met Ky and Tuar.

When she was younger, Sakari spent most of her time with Kamea, Takara, and Unna, although she could be seen with Ky and Tuar as well. In 2015, Unna’s health started to deteriorate  and in December she passed away.

In April of 2016, Sakari and Kamea were involved in an incident with each other. During a "Dine with Shamu" show they were separated from Takara. The two young whales reportedly started fighting and Sakari emerged from the water with blood on her chin.

In March of 2017 SeaWorld announced that Takara was pregnant.  Just a few weeks later on April 19th, Takara gave birth to Kyara, the last killer whale to be born at SeaWorld.  Kyara’s birth got international attention and many people instantly fell in love with her. Like always, Takara took very good care of her, and soon Kamea and Sakari were introduced to their new little sister.  The four of them were very close and spent a lot of time together.  At just a few weeks old Kyara was already very active and mimicking her mom and sisters, and by 3 months old she was showing interest in the trainers.   She even allowed trainers to touch her.  Sadly, in late July, Kyara developed pneumonia and had to be separated from her mother and sisters for treatment. She was moved to the Animal Care Center for more intensive care.  She passed away there on July 24th, 2017, at just over 3 months old.  Although all of the whales were affected by her loss, they seemed to be recovering by the end of July.

## Trivia

* Although Sakari's name is often said to mean "sweet" in Inuktitut, this is not correct.  "Sakari" is likely a Todas name that means "sweet one".  "Sakari" is also the Finnish form of the Herbew name "Zachariah", which means "the Lord has remembered". Although it is more popular as a masculine name, it can be a feminine name as well.
* Sakari has lived with a total of 7 different whales in her life.

## Galleries

* **Photos** of Sakari
* **Videos** of Sakari

## Transfer History

*Sakari has never been transferred out of SeaWorld San Antonio.*

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "SeaWorld Orca Profile - Killer Whale Takara 2010"
2. ↑ "KILLER WHALE, SEA LIONS ARRIVE AT SEAWORLD SAN ANTONIO"
3. ↑ "KILLER WHALE BORN TODAY"
4. ↑ "Killer Whale Calf Born | SeaWorld San Antonio" by SeaWorld San Antonio on YouTube
5. ↑ "Sakari's Birth" by Jenna Deedy on YouTube
6. ↑ "SeaWorld Orca Profile - Killer Whale Sakari 2010"
7. ↑ "Our Newest Killer Whale is Oh, So Sweet!"
8. ↑ "Whale born at SeaWorld San Antonio"
9. ↑ "Baby Orca" by Tim Goodenough on YouTube
10. ↑ "Why is SeaWorld Announcing Unna's Bladder Infection to the World?"
11. ↑ "SeaWorld killer whale dies at San Antonio park"
12. ↑ "These photos are from an(...)" by Kassy (loveroforcas) on Instagram
13. ↑ "SeaWorld San Antonio Has A Special Announcement!" by SeaWorld® Parks & Entertainment on YouTube
14. ↑ "This baby killer whale is the last one born at SeaWorld"
15. ↑ "Welcome to the pod little(...)" by SeaWorld on Facebook
16. ↑ "A Very Special Birthday At SeaWorld®" by SeaWorld® Parks & Entertainment on YouTube
17. ↑ "Better Quality: Takara, 6-week-old Kyara, Sakari, Kamea - Dine with Shamu (June 2017)" by TessOrca on YouTube
18. ↑ "Takara, 6-week-old Kyara, Sakari, Kamea - One Ocean Clips (June 2017)" by Tess Orca on YouTube
19. ↑ "Ever wonder what it’s like(...)" by SeaWorld on Facebook
20. ↑ "Takara’s 3-month-old calf, Kyara,(...)" by SeaWorld on Facebook
21. ↑ "Friends and Fans of SeaWorld(...)" by SeaWorld on Facebook
22. ↑ "Thank you from SeaWorld San Antonio's Killer Whale team" by SeaWorld on Facebook
23. ↑ "'American Indian' Names That Don't Have The Meaning They're Supposed To"
24. ↑ *A Genealogist's Guide to Ethnic Names: A Reference for First Names from Around the World*
25. ↑ Sakari - Nordic Names