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In 1969, humans in boats attacked a pod of orcas off the coast of British Columbia. They violently separated the calves from their moms—a bond that many wild orcas share for life—and sold them into captivity. 😰
Corky was one of the young orcas taken that day. This is her story:
Today, Corky swims in endless circles while locked inside one of SeaWorld’s tiny tanks. Her siblings and other members of her pod still swim free in the ocean, but the only life she knows is one of deprivation, suffering, and loss. 😢
On this page, you can learn more about Corky and then join the hundreds of thousands of advocates calling on SeaWorld to release the orcas it holds captive to seaside sanctuaries, where they can experience some semblance of the natural life they’ve been denied for so long.
It’s time for change.
A MOTHER’S HEARTBREAK: Corky’s Tragic Role in Orca-Breeding Programs
From 1977 to 1986 at the now-closed Marineland of the Pacific in California, Corky was used as a breeding machine and bred with her own cousin six times. 😡 None of her babies survived past 47 days. In 1987, she was transferred to SeaWorld San Diego, where her last pregnancy ended in a miscarriage. Her dead baby was found at the bottom of a tank.
Possibly bc she missed her calves, Corky spent a lot of time close to a young female orca named Orkid when they shared a tank at SeaWorld—but this may have led to jealousy. Orkid’s mother, Kandu, forcefully charged Corky. Kandu broke her own jaw and severed arteries in her head in this incident, and it took 45 minutes for her to die in full view of her calf. 😭
From the minute Corky was taken from the ocean, her life has been full of confusion, pain, and suffering. Even if any of her calves had survived, they prob would have been taken from her anyway, shipped somewhere else, and forced to entertain humans and breed more orcas.
HOPE FOR THE FUTURE: Bringing Corky Home
When Corky was captured, other orcas from her pod—including her mom—were left in the ocean off the coast of British Columbia, where her siblings still visit to this day.
A team of experts has identified an area there to build a seaside sanctuary so that Corky and other captive orcas can finally return home to the ocean waters where they belong. 😲
If she were released to a sanctuary in these waters, Corky could have an opportunity to communicate with her biological siblings, who traveled with their mom until she passed—an opportunity stolen from her. She could feel the flowing currents, dive deep into the water, and possibly even reunite with her fam. 🥰 But for that to happen, SeaWorld needs to act—and it’s up to us to help.
TAKE ACTION NOW! Urge SeaWorld to Send Corky to a Seaside Sanctuary
Although SeaWorld ended its orca-breeding program, animals like Corky will keep swimming in circles inside tiny tanks for decades until they die. The company must empty its tanks and improve these animals’ lives by releasing them to seaside sanctuaries.
Help Corky today—take a moment to sign our petition urging the company to release her to a seaside sanctuary.