Killer whale born at SeaWorld San Diego in 2001 dies of infection

SAN DIEGO » A nearly 20-year-old killer whale born at SeaWorld San Diego has died of an infection, the park announced Friday.

Nakai died Thursday night after aggressive efforts to treat him were unsuccessful, a park statement said.

Nakai was born at the park in September 2001. He was described as friendly and playful.

“He'll be remembered as a curious and quick learner, often picking up behaviors just by observing the other whales in his pod,” the statement said. “Because of these natural abilities, Nakai participated in hearing studies to help scientists better understand the impact on orcas of noise from ships and other human activity.”

“His contributions to helping improve the health and survival of whales in the wild cannot be underestimated and will never be forgotten,” the statement said.

With Nakai's death, there are now eight killer whales remaining at SeaWorld, ranging in age from 9 to 57 years old.

SeaWorld announced the end of its orca breeding program in March 2016, following years of pressure from animal rights protests and shifting public opinion about orcas being held in captivity.

The protests intensified after the release of the 2013 documentary “Blackfish,” which focused on the life of Tilikum, a killer whale responsible for killing trainer Dawn Brancheau when he dragged her into a pool at SeaWorld Orlando in 2010. The movie implied that orcas become more aggressive in captivity.

Nakai was the second orca to die at the park within a year. A 6-year-old female orca named Amaya died Aug. 20, 2021 after a sudden illness.

Kasatka, a 42-year-old female, died from a lung disease in 2017.