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A 30-year-old orca has died at SeaWorld Orlando

Kayla was born in San Antonio and eventually moved to Florida in 2006.

By Ray Roa on Mon, Jan 28, 2019 at 12:32 pm

Gordon2448 [CC BY-SA 3.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], from Wikimedia Commons

Kayla at SeaWorld Orlando on August 14, 2011.

SeaWorld Orlando officials have confirmed that a 30-year-old orca named Kayla has died.

"While today is a difficult day for all of us at SeaWorld, Kayla inspired generations of guests and employees to care and learn more about this amazing species," SeaWorld officials said in a Monday morning statement, adding that the cause of death will not be determined until a postmortem examination is complete.

Kayla had been receiving treatment since Saturday after undergoing a physical exam, but her condition worsened Sunday, according to the statement. She died with her animal care specialists by her side.

Kayla was born at SeaWorld San Antonio in November 1988, making her one of the oldest captive born orcas in the park’s collection. In Death at SeaWorld, David Kirby reported that Kayla had been taken away from her mother at two years old.

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About The Author

Ray Roa

Read his 2016 intro letter and disclosures from 2022 and 2021. Ray Roa started freelancing for Creative Loafing Tampa in January 2011 and was hired as music editor in August 2016. He became Editor-In-Chief in August 2019. Past work can be seen at Suburban Apologist, Tampa Bay Times, Consequence of Sound and The...

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