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Chimo

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description Chimo Overview

Chimo was a female orca distinguished by her unusually pale coloration. She was captured off British Columbia in 1970 and kept at Sealand of the Pacific near Victoria, where she lived alongside other captive orcas until her death in 1972. Her appearance has been associated with Chediak-Higashi syndrome, a rare inherited disorder affecting pigmentation and immune function, rather than ordinary albinism.

help Chimo FAQ

Why was Chimo unusual among orcas?

Chimo was known for unusually pale coloration, which made her visually distinct from most other orcas. Her appearance was associated with leucism, a condition involving reduced pigmentation.

Where was Chimo captured?

Chimo was captured off the coast of British Columbia in 1970. She was then taken to Sealand of the Pacific near Victoria.

What happened to Chimo at Sealand of the Pacific?

She lived in captivity alongside other orcas at Sealand of the Pacific. Chimo died in 1972, roughly two years after her capture.

Was Chimo an albino orca?

Chimo is often described as albino in popular accounts, but her pale pattern has also been linked to leucism. The distinction matters because leucism reduces pigmentation without necessarily removing all pigment from the eyes.

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