A Western View - Remembering Shouka
In early 2004, the amusement industry was caught off guard
with the announcement that Six Flags would be selling their Ohio theme park,
Worlds of Adventure, to rival Cedar Fair.
Along with the announcement it was stated that Cedar Fair had no
interest in operating an animal park, meaning that the hundreds of animals at
the park would soon need a new home. Among
those animals was a killer whale named Shouka, and she would soon be headed to
her new home at Six Flags Marine World in California.
As Marine World began it’s 2004 season, the park was buzzing
with anticipation of their new arrival.
Pacific Stadium began its transformation to Shouka Stadium with its
pools and filtration systems being renovated.
Employees began wearing “We Love Shouka” buttons and banners were
attached to the park’s clock tower with large letters saying “SHOUKA - Arriving This Spring.”
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Shouka Arrives at her new home. © Six Flags Discovery Kingdom |
And then ,after what felt like endless months of excitement,
in the middle of the night a large cargo jet landed at Travis Air Force Base
carrying over 300 animals included the much anticipate Shouka. After a CHP escorted journey 20 miles down
Interstate 80, Shouka arrived at her new home.
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Shouka is acclimated to the water. © Six Flags Discovery Kingdom |
After some time at the park, it was obvious (not to mention
legally required) that Shouka needed a companion. The park moved Merlin, an Atlantic bottlenose
dolphin, into Shouka stadium, but this wasn’t a match made in heaven. Shouka and Merlin were almost always
separated in different pools and seemed to have a serious problem getting
along. For the entire 2006 season,
Shouka didn’t perform in shows at all due to behavioral issues where she was generally
uncooperative with her trainers.
Six Flags, under the leadership of CEO Mark Shapiro, began
and intense and aggressive search for a killer whale companion for Shouka. The company attempted negotiations with
SeaWorld parks and Marineland in Canada to have Shouka mate with another whale
so that she could have a baby, and thus a companion. Competitiveness won though, with both
entities choosing it was better for their business that Six Flags didn’t have
more whales, and SeaWorld going as far as requesting she be moved to one of their parks. Another attempt to procure
a whale from South America seemed to be going well until it came to light that
the whale had been captured illegally, resulting in Six Flags immediately
calling off the deal.
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Shouka entertains a large crowd. © Six Flags Discovery Kingdom |
Near the end of the 2006 Shouka began to come around and
seemed to be on the up and up with Merlin.
She performed happily again starting in 2007, a year that the park once
again emphasized her presence as they rebranded to Six Flags Discovery Kingdom. Shouka Stadium received another update with
new backgrounds. Everything seemed to be
going great and continued that way for many years. The park added more dolphins off and on to Shouka Stadium, giving Shouka more company.
In 2011, however, the issues between Shouka and Merlin came
about again and Merlin was moved out of the stadium once again leaving her
alone. The park again had to begin
searching for a solution to Shouka’s solitude.
This season, Shouka remained a hot topic as an online
petition surfaced urging Six Flags to move the whale to SeaWorld so that she
can be with her own kind. The park acknowledged
that a solution was needed and they were considering all options. Throughout the summer rumors swirled that the
park was looking to move Shouka to a new home, and this morning those rumors
were proven true.
Shouka was officially moved from her home at Six Flags
Discovery Kingdom in the early hours of August 20th, the first day
the park was closed since the beginning of summer. Shouka’s destination was SeaWorld San Diego,
where she will be integrated into the existing Killer Whale family. SeaWorld has said that Shouka will be used in
their Shamu shows, though when that will happen is unclear.
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Shouka meets Corky at SeaWorld San Diego © SeaWorld San Diego |
Obviously this is fantastic news when it comes to the care
and well being of such an amazing creature, but it comes with immense sadness
throughout the entire San Francisco Bay Area.
Shouka was loved by millions and was a true icon for the park, with her
image depicted leaping over the front gate, as well as in the park’s logo.
During my time at the park, I grew very fond of Shouka. Whether it was assisting with massive crowds
at her show or getting to go back stage of the stadium, the memories she
created are irreplaceable. I couldn’t
help but having endearing feelings for the large mammal and she will be sorely
missed..
Sadness aside, I am excited for Shouka’s future and wish her
the very best in her new home. I know I cannot wait to go down and see her once again.
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