WESTCOAST NEWS
Orca born on Vancouver Island slams trainer during public show

Vancouver Sun

July 28, 2004

OAK BAY - An Oak Bay-born killer whale at SeaWorld in San Antonio, Texas, repeatedly slammed its trainer underwater during a show that was captured in dramatic home video footage that was aired this week.

The trainer, Steve Aibel, was not injured in the incident last Friday.

The whale named Ky began slamming Aibel during the show and other trainers rushed to the side of the tank. Aibel, who has trained the orca for 10 years, said he was surprised, and is unsure what prompted the behaviour. But he said the whale is near breeding age and may have just been feeling his adolescent hormones.

The whale, whose full name is Kyuquot, was born Dec. 24, 1991, at Sealand of the Pacific on Vancouver Island. The Oak Bay aquarium officially closed in 1993. Ky and his mother, Haida, were sent to San Antonio. Haida died there in August 2001.
© The Vancouver Sun 2004

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