New addition

[jewell]

We missed it by one day!! - last weekend one of the killer whales gave birth to the park&#39;s newest addition, live in front of the audience! Hope they had their cameras ready <img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle>

Sandra

[Ruth]

One of the whales at Sea World is called Winnie. In the 1980s she was at Windsor Safari Park (now Legoland) and I worked with her when I was a student (I was there for 2 weeks on work experience)

Ruth

[steph_goodrum]

It was Winnie who inspired Michelles' love of Killer Whales. In 1990 (I think) shortly before the park closed we took Michelle for her 4th birthday treat. It rained most of the day and we spent a long time in the underwater viewing area, every time anybody except Michelle stood in front of the window Winnie refused to come near, but as soon as Michelle stood there, Winnie appeared within seconds, so all the adults kept telling her how much Winnie loved her, and asked her to stand there so they could take her picture. We didn't have the heart to tell her it was probably more to do with her bright red Sooty raincoat than anything else.

Babblin Boo

[Julieb]

My guests who arrived home today thought it was Shamu who had given birth because the Shamu show was cancelled. They were able to take a look at the new cub instead and I always thought that Shamu was a male!

[jewell]

They did announce at the park that the main show was cancelled due to Shamu giving birth. Shamu is a trade name, they use it in California too. So I think all killer whales with Sea World are known as Shamu!! Must make it easier, come to think of it why didn't I use that idea when I had the children????

Sandra

[porky]

If I called both my children Shamu they would have turned on me and said, "It's you that's the whale mum, not us".<img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle><img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle><img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle><img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle><img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle><img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle>

[steph_goodrum]

In my opinion, there is only one reason why all the killer whales at Sea World are called Shamu, the commercial aspect, they can produce all the merchandise without having to change it for new arrivals or have stuff left if there is a less popular one or 1 of the whales dies or is moved. I think it's a real shame, (they do still have individual names according to the trainer we spoke to and she could name them all) but it does de-personalise the show.

Babblin Boo

[MMFAN]

But during the show don't they refer to only one of the killer whales as Shamu? What do they call the others?

[steph_goodrum]

I think they get over it by saying something like Shamu and friends or family can't remember exact wording.

Babblin Boo

[florida4sun]

There is no one whale named "Shamu", and are used for whichever whales are performing that day. "Shamu" was the name of the first killer whale at Sea World California, and the name became so popular that when she died, the name was used for all Sea World killer whales.

quote:
In my opinion, there is only one reason why all the killer whales at Sea World are called Shamu, the commercial aspect, they can produce all the merchandise without having to change it for new arrivals or have stuff left if there is a less popular one or 1 of the whales dies or is moved. I think it's a real shame, (they do still have individual names according to the trainer we spoke to and she could name them all) but it does de-personalise the show.

Babblin Boo

Martin

Another Day in Paradise!