Canuck II - orca
Canuck II was a male orca that was part of the group of orcas captured off the coast of Iceland in 1977.
| Sex | Male |
|---|---|
| Died | August 2, 1981 SeaWorld San Diego |
| Cause of death | Chronic kidney disease |
| Captured at | Ingólfshöfði, Iceland |
| Capture age | Approx. 2 years |
| Capture date | October 12, 1977 |
On October 12, 1977, a group of six orcas were captured in Ingólfshöfði, Iceland. They might have been initially taken to the Hafnarfjordur Aquarium and later moved to Dolphinarium Harderwijk.
After two months, SeaWorld San Diego acquired a male and a female from the group. These orcas, known as Kandu V and Canuck II, joined two resident bull orcas named Winston and Kilroy. Shortly after their arrival, they were introduced to an Icelandic female named Kenau.
The three new orcas underwent training for daily shows. Kandu V and Canuck II were selected for performances, and although Kandu V progressed well, Canuck II seemed to struggle with making significant advancements.
As a result, Canuck II was relocated to designated "petting pools," where visitors could interact with the animals, including petting Canuck II's tongue. In 1978, he was joined by two other orcas, a male named Kotar and a female named Kasatka.
On August 2, 1981, Canuck II died due to a chronic kidney disease.