Shouka

On the left is a video I found on YouTube of Shouka at Six Flags Discovery Kingdom in 2008.

Shouka is a 19 year old Orca who was born in Marineland Antibes in France. She was taken away from her family (mother, father and her siblings) and moved to Six Flags Discovery Kingdom in 2002.

Having been on her own for the last 10 years, 7 of which she had the company of dolphins. After Merlin, a wild captured bottlenose dolphin who had been housed with her was moved to a different area of the park to be with the other dolphins, Shouka was left alone.

They had tried to import another orca named Kshamenk (living in Mundo Marino in Argentina) but that didn't worked out and poor Shouka has been alone since November 2011.

So last night Shouka was packed up and moved to SeaWorld San Diego...

I think my biggest question is why was she not returned to France and her family? I am digging and digging to find more info on this, if anyone has anything to contribute, any links for me to add, please leave a note in the comments! Thank-you!

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References & Resources

http://cetacousin.bplaced.net/orca/profile/shouka.html
http://www.marineland.fr/
http://www.sixflags.com/discoveryKingdom/index.aspx
http://www.change.org/petitions/shouka-the-killer-whale-needs-a-companion
http://www.nbcdfw.com/news/weird/SeaWorld-San-Diego-Whale-Arrival-Lindbergh-Field-Vallejo-Shouka-166746526.html
http://www.internationalwhaleprotection.org/forum/index.php?/topic/1484-shouka-is-being-moved-to-seaworld-san-diego/