Baby Shamu 2

Baby Shamu 2 was a newborn orca who was born at SeaWorld San Diego on January 5, 1986. Her mother is Kenau and her father is Winston. She passed away on January 16, 1986.

Baby Shamu 2, as she had been nicknamed, seemed to do well after birth. She began to nurse and Kenau had been doing well with her first calf. Unfortunately, the calf started to have trouble breathing and passed away soon after. Orca calves are born with heart valves open and they should close soon after birth. Because Baby Shamu 2 had a respiratory infection, this worsened her condition. One of the valves did not close which caused the calf to pass away.