Orcas, or killer whales, are large predatory cetaceans that were first captured live and displayed in exhibitions in the 1960s. They soon became popular attractions at public aquariums and aquatic theme parks due to their intelligence, trainability, striking appearance, playfulness in captivity and sheer size. As of April 2026, there are an estimated 53 - 55 orcas residing at facilities in North and South America, Europe and Asia.
The first North Eastern Pacific orca, Wanda, was captured in November 1961 by a collecting crew from Marineland of the Pacific, and over the next 15 years, around 60 to 70 orcas were taken from Pacific waters for this purpose. When the US Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 effectively stopped the capture of Pacific orcas, captures were made in Icelandic waters. Since 2010, captures have been made in Russian waters. However, facilities in the United States such as the SeaWorld chain of aquariums have not collected wild orcas in over 35 years.
As of 2 April 2026, captive orcas are distributed globally as follows:
Category Western World Japan China & Russia Total Total 22 6 27 56 Captured/Rescued 3 1 18 22 Captive-born 21 5 9 33
Out of the 22 captive orcas currently located in the western world (United States, Spain and France), 19 were born in captivity (Adán, Ikaika, Kalia, Keet, Keijo, Kyuquot, Malia, Makaio, Makani, Nalani, Orkid, Sakari, Shouka, Takara, Tekoa, Teno, Trua, Tuar, Wikie). Only 3 (Corky II - Northern Resident; Morgan - Norwegian; Ulises - Icelandic) are wild-captured or rescued individuals still held in these countries. Lolita (Tokitae), the last surviving Southern Resident orca in captivity, died in 2023.
In Japan, 5 of the 6 orcas on display were born in captivity (Lara, Lovey, Luna, Lynn, Ran II). The only wild-captured survivor is Stella.
All 25 known captive orcas in China and Russia are Russian ecotypes. Of these, 18 were wild-captured: Naja/Naya (the last captive orca in Russia) and 17 individuals in China (Bandhu, Chad, Cookie, Dora, Jade, Kaixin (Kaishin), Katenka, "Kyra" (real name unknown), Nakhod, Nukka/Grace/Yaohe, Pànghǔ (Fat Tiger), "Samara" (real name unknown), Sean (Shawn II), Sonya, Tyson, WCKWOWR-OO-C1601, WCKWOWR-OO-C1601).[citation needed] Additionally, there are 9 orcas in China that were born in captivity: (Bowen (博文), Cody (胖豆丁), Cookie's Calf, Jingxi (惊喜), Katniss (三隆)), Loki (二笼)), Pearl (隆珠), Yīlóng (一隆), Zimo (子墨)).
Kalina, born in September 1985, was the first captive-born orca calf to survive more than a few days. In September 2001, Kasatka gave birth to Nakai, the first orca conceived through artificial insemination, at SeaWorld San Diego. This technique lets park owners maintain a more healthy genetic mix in the small groups of orcas at each park, while avoiding the stress of moving orcas for breeding purposes."Artificial Insemination Produces Killer Whales" Smithsonian National Zoological Park. Retrieved 14 February 2009.
List of living captive orcas This table contains a full list of living captive orcas in human care (status 7 June 2026).
Name Sex Population Current location Current country Origin Birth / Capture Date AgeAdánMale 87.5% Icelandic – 12.5% Southern residentsLoro ParqueSpainCaptive bornBandhuMale 100% Russian TransientChimelong SpaceshipChinaCaptured2013–2014ChadMale 100% Russian TransientChimelong SpaceshipChinaCaptured2013–2014Bowen (Wǔlong)Male100% Russian TransientChimelong SpaceshipChinaCaptive born1 December 2023Cody (Fat Beans)Male 100% Russian TransientShanghai Haichang Ocean ParkChinaCaptive bornCookieFemale 100% Russian TransientShanghai Haichang Ocean ParkChinaCaptured - birth / July 2015? - captureCookie's CalfMale100% Russian TransientShanghai Haichang Ocean ParkChinaCaptive Born17 June 2026Corky IIFemale 100% Northern ResidentsSeaWorld San DiegoUnited StatesCaptured - birth / 12 December 1969 - captureDoraFemale 100% Russian TransientShanghai Haichang Ocean ParkChinaCaptured - birth / summer 2015 - captureIkaikaMale 100% IcelandicSeaWorld San DiegoUnited StatesCaptive bornJadeFemale100% Russian TransientChimelong SpaceshipChinaCaptured2013–2015; betw. August 2013 and July 2014; may have been captured on 13 August 2013?JingxiMale100% Russian TransientChimelong SpaceshipChinaCaptive born6 October 2023KaliaFemale 87.5% Icelandic – 12.5% Southern ResidentsSeaWorld San DiegoUnited StatesCaptive bornKaixin (Kaishin)Male100% Russian TransientChimelong SpaceshipChinaCaptured2013–2015; fall of 2013 or summer of 2014KatenkaFemale100% Russian TransientChimelong SpaceshipChinaCaptured - birth / - captureKatniss (Sanlong (三隆))Female100% Russian TransientChimelong SpaceshipChinaCaptive bornKeet Male 75% Icelandic – 25% Southern ResidentsSeaWorld San DiegoUnited StatesCaptive bornKeijoMale100% IcelandicMarineland of AntibesFranceCaptive born"Kyra" (real name unknown)Female100% Russian TransientSunAsia Beluga Whale World (holding)ChinaCaptured2016??Kyuquot Male100% IcelandicSeaWorld San AntonioUnited StatesCaptive bornLara Female100% IcelandicKamogawa Sea WorldJapanCaptive bornLoki (Erlong (二笼))Male100% Russian TransientChimelong SpaceshipChinaCaptive bornLovey Female100% IcelandicKamogawa Sea WorldJapanCaptive bornLuna Female100% IcelandicKamogawa Sea WorldJapanCaptive bornLynnFemale100% IcelandicPort of Nagoya AquariumJapanCaptive bornMalia Female 25% Bigg's Transient – 75% IcelandicSeaWorld OrlandoUnited StatesCaptive bornMakaio Male 100% IcelandicSeaWorld OrlandoUnited StatesCaptive bornMakaniMale 50% Argentinian – 50% IcelandicSeaWorld San DiegoUnited StatesCaptive bornMorganFemale100% NorwegianLoro ParqueSpainCaptured (officially rescued)Naja/Naya (Juliet/Malishka)Female100% RussianMoskvariumRussiaCapturedNakhodMale100% Russian TransientChimelong SpaceshipChinaCapturedbetw. August 2013 and July 2014 - Capture 2005 - BirthNalani Female 100% IcelandicSeaWorld OrlandoUnited StatesCaptive bornNukka/Grace/YaoheFemale100% Russian TransientChimelong SpaceshipChinaCapturedOrkidFemale 50% Icelandic – 50% Northern ResidentSeaWorld San DiegoUnited StatesCaptive bornPànghǔ (Fat Tiger)Male100% Russian TransientShanghai Haichang Ocean ParkChinaCaptured (unconfirmed)Pearl (Longzhu)Female100% Russian TransientChimelong SpaceshipChinaCaptive Born15 February 2026Ran II Female100% IcelandicKobe Suma Sea WorldJapanCaptive born"Samara" (real name unknown)Female100% Russian TransientSunAsia Beluga Whale World (holding)ChinaCaptured2016??SakariFemale 100% IcelandicSeaWorld San AntonioUnited StatesCaptive bornSean (Shawn II)Male100% Russian Transient Shanghai Haichang Ocean ParkChinaCapturedShoukaFemale 100% IcelandicSeaWorld San DiegoUnited StatesCaptive bornSonyaFemale100% Russian TransientChimelong SpaceshipChinaCapturedStellaFemale100% IcelandicKobe Suma Sea WorldJapanCapturedTakaraFemale 100% IcelandicSeaWorld San AntonioUnited StatesCaptive bornTekoaMale75% Icelandic – 25% Bigg's TransientLoro ParqueSpainCaptive bornTenoMaleMother 100% Norwegian, father unknownLoro ParqueSpainCaptive bornTruaMale 100% IcelandicSeaWorld OrlandoUnited StatesCaptive bornTuarMale 75% Icelandic – 25% Southern ResidentSeaWorld San AntonioUnited StatesCaptive bornTysonMale100% Russian TransientChimelong SpaceshipChinaCaptured betw. August 2013 and July 2014 - Capture 2005 - BirthUlisesMale 100% IcelandicSeaWorld San DiegoUnited StatesCapturedWCKWOWR-OO-C1601Male100% Russian TransientWuxi Changqiao Killer Whale Ocean World ResortChinaCaptured WCKWOWR-OO-C1601Male100% Russian TransientWuxi Changqiao Killer Whale Ocean World ResortChinaCaptured WikieFemale100% Icelandic Marineland of AntibesFranceCaptive born Yīlóng (一隆)Male100% Russian TransientChimelong SpaceshipChinaCaptive bornZimoMale100% Russian TransientShanghai Haichang Ocean ParkChinaCaptive born
List of unknown captive orca status +NameGenderBreedOrigin:Birth / Capture DateDate when missing/last known encounterLocation of disappearanceAge if alivePossible locationMalvinaFemale100% Russian TransientCapturedJuly 2012 (est.)July 2015 – Possible escape in 2016TINRODalian Laohutan Ocean Park – Linyi Polar Ocean World
List of deceased captive orcas NameSexPopulationOrigin: Captured, Rescued, Captive-BornBirth / Capture DateBirth / Capture LocationDate of deathAge at deathCause of deathLocation of death Country of DeathAhabMale100% Southern ResidentCaptured1960 (est.) – Birth 1968, 15 Oct – CaptureBainbridge Island, WA1972, 27 Sep12systemic nocardiosisU.S. Navy (Hawaii)United StatesAiFemale100% IcelandicCaptured1988 (est.) – Birth 1989, Oct – CaptureHornafjörður, Iceland1995, 28 Aug7CandidiasisNanki Shirahama Adventure WorldJapanAmayaFemale93.75% Icelandic – 6.25% Southern ResidentCaptive born 2014, 2 DecSeaWorld San Diego2021, 19 Aug6Gastrointestinal diseaseSeaWorld San DiegoUnited StatesArgentinian CaptureUnknown100% Argentinian TransientCapturedUnknown – birth 1992, 17 Nov – CaptureSamborombon Bay, Argentina1992, 17 NovUnknownStranding complicationsSamborombon Bay Argentina; Transport Truck; Mundo MarinoArgentinaBaby Shamu llFemale50% Icelandic – 50% Southern ResidentCaptive born1986, 5 JanSeaWorld San Diego1986, 16 Jan0 (11 Days)Heart Defect; Respiratory VirusSeaWorld San DiegoUnited StatesBelen (Bethlehem)Female100% ArgentinianCapturedUnknown Birth/Age 1988, 6 Jan – CaptureSamborom Bay, Argentina2000, 4 Feb12+Suspected Kidney InfectionMundo MarinoArgentinaBenkeiMale100% JapaneseCaptured1971 (est.) – Birth 1979, 26 Feb – CaptureTaiji, Japan1989, Feb16Acute PneumoniaNanki Shirahama Adventure WorldJapanBenkei 2 (Ushiwaka)Male100% IcelandicCaptured1979 (est.) – Birth 1980, 24 Oct – CaptureAlvidra, Iceland1983, 2 Jul3Malignant LymphomaNanki Shirahama Adventure WorldJapanBenkei 3Male100% JapaneseCaptured1981 (est.) – Birth 1982, 12 Feb – CaptureTaiji, Japan1983, Dec2UnknownPrivate ResidenceBenkei 3 was a petJapanBingo (Thor)Male100% IcelandicCaptured1984, Nov – CaptureReydarfjordur, Iceland2014, 2 Aug32Pneumonia Port of Nagoya Public AquariumJapanChimo (Moby Dick)Female100% Bigg's TransientCaptured1970, 1 Mar – CapturePedder Bay, Victoria, BC19724Complications of Chédiak–Higashi syndrome, which also caused her albinism Sealand of the PacificCanadaCookie's calfUnknown100% Russian TransientCaptive born2023, JulShanghai Haichang Ocean Park 2023, Jul16StillbirthShanghai Haichang Ocean Park ChinaEarthMale100% IcelandicCaptive born2008, 13 OctKamogawa Sea World2025, 3 Aug16Gastric TorsionPort of Nagoya Public AquariumJapanGudrunFemale100% IcelandicCaptured1975 late or 1976 early (est.) – Birth 1976, 28 Oct – CaptureHrollaugseyjar, Iceland1996, 25 Feb20Stillbirth complicationsSeaWorld OrlandoUnited StatesHaida Male100% Southern ResidentCaptured1968, 5 Oct – CaptureYukon Harbor, Washington1982, 3 Oct18Lung InfectionSealand of the PacificCanadaHaida IIFemale100% IcelandicCaptured1982, OctStokkseyri, Iceland2001, 1 Aug2Brain Abscess; Cerebral Necrosis; Fungal InfectionSeaWorld San AntonioUnited StatesHugoMale100% Southern ResidentCaptured1968, 22 FebWashington, US1980, 4 MarUnknownBrain aneurysmMiami SeaquariumUnited StatesInoukMale100% IcelandicCaptive born1999, 23 FebMarineland Antibes2024, 28 Mar25Subacute Fibrinous Enteritis PeritonitisMarineland AntibesFranceKalina (Baby Shamu)Female50% Icelandic – 50% Southern ResidentCaptive born1985, 26 SepSeaWorld Orlando2010, 4 Oct25Bacteremia septicemiaSeaWorld OrlandoUnited StatesKameaFemale50% Argentinian Transient - 50% IcelandicCaptive born2013, 6 DecSeaWorld San Antonio2025, 19 Jun11Unspecified Lung Disease SeaWorld San AntonioUnited StatesKanduFemale100% Southern ResidentCaptured1966 (est.) – Birth 1967, 15 Feb – CaptureYukon Harbor, Washington, US1971, 3 Feb5Pneumonia; liver necrosisSeaWorld San DiegoUnited StatesKandu 2Female100% Southern ResidentCaptured1968 (est.) – Born