Corky~ The forgotten



Corky



      In the late 90's, while living in California, I went to SeaWorld San Diego a few times. I was obsessed with Orcas and thought that seeing them up close would be amazing. I remember walking into Shamu stadium for the first time. I remember getting butterflies in my stomach, knowing I was about to see these animals that I loved so much. I remember when the gates opened, and seeing the shadows swimming under the water. I remember when this amazing creature jumped from the water, and I was able to see its true size and beauty. Chills ran up and down my spine, and tears filled my eyes. In my mind, my dream had come true and I was in heaven. 



Corky



  While in Ca. I went to Seaworld 3 times, and each time I felt the same. That is until what happened after the show, on my last visit. After the show, I had the opportunity to go down and "meet" one of the whales. The whale, by chance was "Corky" the older, gentle female. As I stood in line, I remember having the feeling as if I was about to meet some famous movie star, I was so excited. As I got up closer and could see this beautiful animal, my heart was racing, I could not believe that I, the girl from Dallas, Texas, was about to get up close and personal with an orca whale. But then something happened. Something that I never saw coming. Something that changed me forever. As I got up to Corky, I looked into her eye, and (as crazy as it may sound to some) it was like I could see through her soul. All the sudden this whale that seemed so happy moments before as she swim and jumped through the air, seemed so sad. I looked at all the people around us, touching her and laughing and kids screaming. I looked back at her and saw this poor whale laying out of the water just sitting there. I remember hearing the trainer talking to people but her voice seemed so far away. I heard a voice run through my head that was screaming THIS IS NOT RIGHT! Tears filled my eyes, and streamed down my face. I remember walking past her, and I put my hand on her back and said to myself "I am so sorry, I never thought about YOU!" I left that day and never went back. My heart was broken and I was ashamed of myself. I had never thought about the whales themselves. I claimed to love them so much, but knew nothing about them. I had no idea where these animals came from and I never even cared enough to find out. I just assumed that the were happy, they looked happy..right!?!

   I wanted to know more about this whale that changed my life forever. When I got home I looked all over the internet, and what I found broke my heart. I am sure that many other people have stories such as mine. I am sure a lot of people who go to SeaWorld are just like I was, they just have not stoped and thought of the animals themselves. SeaWorld paints a pretty picture of captivity, about how the whales and dolphins live longer healthier lives. I now know this is untrue. I have made it my life's mission to now be their voice. Those living and those who have passed, they all have a story. They are all important, and they all deserve to be known.

The Story of Corky II

 On December 11 1969, the A5- pod of British Columbia were caught in nets in the Pender Harbour. The next morning 6 orcas were taken into captivity, and the rest of the pod was released. Corky's age at the time of capture is guessed to between 3 and 5, depending on who you ask, or where you read.  The  unnamed orca was separated from her pod and sent to live at MarineLand in Ca. She was placed in a small pool with her cousin Orky, who had been captured a year earlier. In Dec 1970, a year after her capture Corky I died, and it was at that point Corky II was named.



Corky and Kiva(who lived 47 days)



 While at MarineLand Corky II (who I will now just call Corky) became the first orca to become pregnant and give birth in captivity. On Feb 28, 1977, Corky gave birth to her first calf, a male, who died 18 days after his birth. Corky and Orky breed 6 more times, but every calf died, the longest living 47 days. It is unsure why none of Corky and Orky's calves survived. Some will say it was because she didn't know how to be a good mother, due to being taken at such a young age, and not having an older female to help her(i do not believe this at all). Others will say it was because the living conditions at MarineLand were bad. Either way, Corky lost 7 babies in a 10 year period, which says alot in itself, about breeding in captivity.

Video of Corky and Orky at Marineland. You can see the tank they lived in well.



  In 1987 Corky and her cousin, and pool mate, Orky were sold to SeaWorld San Diego, and the pair were moved.  The two were introduced to bigger pools and new orcas. Orky was put into Seaworlds breeding program. He was mated with both Kandu V and Kenau shortly after his arrival. Kandu V gave birth to Orkid on Sept 23, 1988, just three days later Orky died of pneumonia. On Nov 26 1988, Orky's other daughter, Kayla, was born to Kenau.
  Corky had lost her cousin that she loved dearly, but had other battles going on. Corky was very sweet and gentle. She was very trusted and dependable for her trainers. She quickly became the "Star" of SeaWorld,  playing the role of "Shamu". Although her trainers loved to work with her, she was not without enemies.  Kandu V was the dominate female at SeaWorld and did not like Corky around. Kandu and Corky performed together regularly, and there were multiple incidents reported were Kandu became aggressive with Corky. Each time, Corky became submissive, and just tried to get away. Many of these events ended in one or both whales being injured. With the birth of Orkid, and her becoming "Baby Shamu", Kandu and Corky preformed together even more.

Video from 1988 showing Kandu V, Orkid, and Corky (as shamu) preforming together.

Kandu V blowing blood

On August 21 1989, during an afternoon show, Kandu became very upset with Corky and again went in to attack her. In one of her attempts to strike Corky, the bigger and older whale moved, and Kandu V ran into the pool wall. She then proceeded to swim to the back  tank where trainers and park guest witnessed her blow out large amounts of blood. Guest were removed from the stadium, and trainers watched helplessly for 45 mins, as Kandu V bleed to death, due to an artery in her jaw being severed during the attack.  Orkid at this time was 11 months old, and was by her mothers side as she died.

In this video, (which is in German) It talks first about Tilikum and the death of his first trainer in Canada, but then, at about 1 min in, it shows video footage of Kandu swimming to the back pool, with Orkid by her side, and Kandu blowing blood.
***Translation of Video: (Thank you Katrin)
 For the 20 year old Keltie Bryne, however, all help came to late, in 1991 she slipped on the edge of the tank in SeaWorld of the Pacific and accidentally falls into the pool. The three killer whales, 2 females and a male pull the biology student underwater. Unlike at SeaWorld, the trainers here never enter the water with the whales, whether they just wanted to play with her and accidentally drowned her or whether they consciously attacked the young woman was never ascertained. Even when it is certain that Byrne cannot be saved, the animals do not give up the body of the student. The aquarium ceases the display of killer whales one year later and sells the animals to SeaWorld. There is also aggression amongst the the animals that sometimes ends in fatalities, mostly it is dominance related violence to establish the pecking order in the group. In 1989 at SeaWorld San Diego, a full audience witnesses a clash between Corky and Kandu, the orca for who's release Paul Spong has been campaigning for years. The bloody fight that costs Kandu's life lasts 45 minutes. (I think he means the fight for her life, rather than the fight between the two animals but it's phrased poorly).***



Corky and Young Orkid



In an odd twist of fate, after Kandu's death, it was Corky who cared for Orkid. The two became very close, and still are to this day.



Corky and  Young Splash



In 1992 Corky's mothering skills were called on again, when a 2 year old male named Splash was sent to SeaWorld. Splash had been born in Ontario, but suffered from seizures and was sent to SeaWorld for care. Corky now suddenly found herself the mother of two, Orkid and Splash. In 2000, when 11 month old Sumar came to San Diego, after being separated from his mother, due to her abuse, Corky quickly took him in as well. The four whales quickly bonded and were very close.   With all 3 (Orkid, Splash, and Sumar) of these young calves, Corky did a wonderful mothering job. She cared for them as if they were her own, and they all had very tight bonds. Corky also helped with the calves born at SeaWorld. She is very good with the babies, and seemed to be a natural mother, despite all of her own calves dying.  



Corky and baby Sumar



  Splash's illness was managed with medication, for the most part. But on a number of occasions, he would have seizures. It is reported that when these seizures happened Corky, Orkid, and Sumar was always there to try in help. One report claims that Orkid pushed Splash to the surface and helped trainers get him to the medical pool. In April of 2005 Splash became ill. He was put on antibiotics but died of "Acute Perforating Gastric Ulceration W/ Associated Peritonitis " according to SeaWorlds Marine Mammal Inventory Report. Is was reported that both Orkid and Sumar, were at the gates of the medical pool when Splash died. Five years later Sumar died on Sept 7, 2010 of twisted intestinal tract (intestinal volvulus). In his final moments his best pal, and adopted sister, Orkid, was by his side. This happened because Orkid and Corky were in the pool next to the medical pool. Orkid became extremely upset, and trainers had to move her into the medical pool, with Sumar to calm her down. She stayed by Sumar's side till he was lifted out of the pool. During this time Corky swam around in her signature upside down style. (see video below) It was reported that Corky mourned the loss of her adopted boys, and took it hard. I include these stories to show the bond that these whales had with each other. To me, these bonds are a direct result of the mothering they received by Corky. It is clear that she taught them all true love.

View more videos at: http://www.nbcsandiego.com/?__source=embedCode.



 


Corky with very worn teeth

 

 Today, Corky has been in Captivity for 41 years(42 in Dec), the longest of any whale in captivity. She is roughly 44 to 46 years of age. She still performs at Seaworld and is considered the most trusted of all orcas in captivity. She is the "trainer orca" that all new trainers work with at Seaworld, and has never reportedly shown aggression. She is and has always been the "low man on the totum pole" when it comes to the Orca picking order. This must be because her submissive and laid back attitude.  She gets along with her fellow orcas besides Ulises, who seems to pick on her often. Orkid is fast to stand up for Corky when this happens, and is often with her. Corky's teeth are completely worn down and she has cataracts in one eye, but this does not stop her from her full performance schedule. Corky is ease to pick out from the other orcas at Seaworld. She is very large at 19.7 feet long and 8,255lbs. She has a very tall and straight dorsal fine, she has dart-like patches over her eyes, and more times then not, she found swimming up side down. If she is near a pool with a viewing window, you can bet she is there showing off and watching the people on the other side.

 In the wild, Corky's  mom Stripe (A23) died in 2000 and her brother Oskisollo died a year later. The rest of her pod still lives of the coast of BC.  The video below shows Corky's family. Its her mom Stripe, brother's Okisollo and Fife, Sister Ripple, and niece Midsummer (the video calls Midsummer a boy, but everything else I find says he is a she). The video was taken in about 1998 (due to Midsummers age). In the video it touches on the struggles the family has faced. How Stripe stays close to her family, and how pod has faced many tragic events over the years. From captures to boating accidents to not having enough food to eat. Yet through it all, they stayed together. Through it all they have their love for each other, that keeps them going.

An amazing Video of Corky's Mother and siblings.



It is clear to me that Corky carries her family with her, to this day. I see so much of her mothers gentleness, love, and ability to carry on, in her. I do not know if in the short time Corky was with her mother, she learned to love the way she does, or if its just an amazing trait that was passed down in her genes. Her ability to just keep going, through all she has faced in the past 41 years, is amazing.  I was blessed to met this amazing soul. I will be forever grateful to Corky for opening my eyes and giving me the passion and fire I have inside of me. I will carry the lesson she has taught me, passing it on to my own child, and those I meet. I will fight for her, and all other animals, right to freedom and life. I will be the voice they do not have. And I will never let her story fade, I will never allow her to become the forgotten...