21 avril 2004 06:19
Killer Whale transported to California
Isabelle Hontebeyrie
Shouka the killer whale is getting accustomed to her new California home, following yesterday's cross-country trip from Cleveland to Six Flags Marine World in the San Francisco Bay Area.
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| © Six Flags |
The 10-year-old orca was born at Marineland Antibes, a marine life park in France, and has been placed on a long-term loan with the Six Flags organization, first at its Aurora, Ohio, park and now at
Six Flags Marine World. Her name, pronounced "Shoo-ka," means "beautiful one."
Shouka flew first class aboard a 747 transport jet, along with dolphins, anteaters, snakes, sharks, otters, sea lions, tarantulas and about 400 other animals. Shouka and her mobile menagerie received a California Highway Patrol escort down the freeways from Mather Field in Sacramento to the Six Flags park in Vallejo.
The 4,000-pound, 16-foot-long orca seems to be settling into her new, bigger, two-million-gallon pool just fine and should be ready to meet visitors by the end of the week, according to whale trainers and veterinarians who accompanied Shouka on the five-hour flight. Shouka traveled in a custom-made, water-filled transport container, cradled in a supportive sling to keep her blowhole above water and allow her to breathe normally.
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© Six Flags
Shouka was lowered by sling and crane into her new home |
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© Six Flags
Shouka is comforted by her trainers |
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