Popular Killer Whale 'Ku' Dies
At Nagoya Port Aquarium

Saturday, September 20, 2008
NAGOYA, JAPAN - "Ku", a killer whale kept at the Nagoya Port Aquarium and a popular tourist attraction, died on Friday, the aquarium announced.

The 6.1-meter-long, 2.7-ton female killer whale stopped eating around July 23. An examination found that Ku's skin was inflamed by herpes, and, despite treatment, Ku was found dead at the bottom of a pool on Friday morning.

Ku was the aquarium's most popular attraction, famous for her jumping during performances. While Ku being treated, the aquarium received over 50 get-well letters from children, including messages like "Come back soon" and "I want to see you jump again."

"We're really sad, because Ku was familiar to many people. We want to do more research on the unidentified diseases of marine animals and plants. Ku's death must not be in vain," said Itaru Uchida, the curator of the aquarium. A research team at the veterinary department of Gifu University is currently studying the cause of Ku's death in more detail.

With her dead, the number of killer whales bred in Japan has decreased to just seven, kept at Kamogawa Seaworld in Chiba Prefecture and Wakayama's Whale Museum.

Source: The Mainichi Daily News