Winnie - orca
| Sex | Female |
|---|---|
| Captured at | Ingólfshöfði, Iceland |
| Capture age | Approx. 1 Year |
| Capture date | October 12, 1977 |
In October 12, 1977, a pod of six orcas comprising two males and four females was captured off the coast of Iceland. The orcas were then transported to the Hafnarfjordur Aquarium, where their health was assessed, genders identified, and individual names assigned to each of them.
Subsequently, the orcas were sold to different marine parks after being relocated to Dolphinarium Harderwijk. Two of the females, Peanuts (later known as Hoi Wai) and Frya, were acquired by SeaWorld in exchange for a male orca named Winston. They were initially sent to Windsor Safari Park, but Peanuts/Hoi Wai later moved to Clacton Dolphinarium and eventually Ocean Park in Hong Kong.
Frya was renamed Winnie as a tribute to the park manager's wife and remained solitary at the park until 1985. During that year, a young male named Nemo arrived from Clacton Dolphinarium with the hope that he and Winnie would form a compatible pair. However, their relationship did not thrive, and tragically, Nemo passed away in 1986, leaving Winnie alone once again.
Amidst growing opposition to captivity in the UK, Winnie was sent to SeaWorld on October 26, 1991, to participate in their breeding program. Her arrival at SeaWorld Orlando presented challenges, as she was considerably smaller than the dominant females and experienced continuous harassment, resulting in her submissive behavior.
In October 1994, Winnie was relocated to SeaWorld Aurora in Ohio, where she swiftly assumed the role of dominant female. It was there that she formed a strong bond with another female named Kayla, and together, they performed at the park for five years. In 1999, both orcas were transferred to the San Antonio park.
Initially, concerns arose regarding Winnie's interaction with Haida II, the resident dominant female at the San Antonio park. However Winnie and Haida II established a harmonious relationship. When Haida II passed away in 2001, many of the other orcas at the park exhibited a reluctance to perform. Subsequently, Winnie reassumed her role as the dominant female.
On April 11, 2002, Winnie also died. Throughout her time at Windsor Safari Park, she had ingested more than 12 lbs. of foreign objects, which eventually obstructed her intestines. This obstruction prevented her body from absorbing nutrients, ultimately leading to her demise nearly two decades later.