Shamu / ʃæmuː / (c. 1961[1] – August 16, 1971) was a female orca captured in October 1965 from a southern resident pod. She was sold to SeaWorld San Diego and became a star attraction.

SeaWorld’s first “Shamu” was a female orca who was captured in the wild in 1965 when she was just 3 years old. Whalers harpooned and killed her mother and the young orca refused to leave …

Shamu (pronounced sha-MOO) was an approximately 10-year-old female Southern Resident killer whale who lived at SeaWorld San Diego. She was captured on October 31st, 1965 from …

Aug 21, 2023 · The original Shamu was a female orca held in captivity from 1965 to 1971, when she died just months after attacking a SeaWorld San Diego employee.

Nov 6, 2025 · The name “Shamu” has become deeply embedded in popular culture, instantly conjuring images of killer whale shows and SeaWorld’s iconic brand. However, the history of …

Feb 28, 2024 · “Shamu” has been used as a moniker for practically every orca held at SeaWorld. However, this name derives from the very first healthy orca intentionally captured and trained …

The original Shamu was the first intentional live capture of a female orca and the second female orca to ever live in captivity. She was captured in 1965 by Ted Griffin to be a mate for Namu, …

Jan 23, 2024 · Shamu the orca is one of the most famous and beloved marine animals in the world. With her striking black and white coloring and graceful movements, she has captured …

SeaWorld’s first “Shamu” was a female orca who was captured in the wild in 1965 when she was just 3 years old. Whalers harpooned and killed her mother and the young orca refused to leave …

The Shamu show began in the 1960s. The original Shamu died in 1971, but the name was trademarked by SeaWorld, and has been given to different orcas over the years.