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Namu

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description Namu Overview

Namu was a male orca captured in 1965 near British Columbia and subsequently kept at the Seattle Marine Aquarium. He became one of the earliest orcas displayed and trained for public performances, helping change popular perceptions of killer whales as animals capable of sustained interaction with people. Namu lived in a sea pen rather than a conventional aquarium tank and became the subject of the 1966 film Namu, the Killer Whale.

help Namu FAQ

How was the orca Namu captured?

In June 1965, a male orca became entangled in a salmon net near Namu Bay, British Columbia. Aquarium owner Ted Griffin bought him and towed him south to the Seattle Marine Aquarium in a floating pen [HistoryLink](https://www.historylink.org/File/2718).

Why was Namu significant in aquarium history?

Namu was one of the earliest orcas displayed and trained for public performance, and Ted Griffin became the first person to swim publicly with him according to historical accounts. His story helped make orcas a major public attraction, although the captivity era is now viewed critically [PBS](https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/whales/etc/summary.html).

Was there a film about Namu?

Yes, the 1966 United Artists film *Namu, the Killer Whale* dramatized a marine biologist's bond with an orca. It was directed by László Benedek and starred Robert Lansing and Lee Meriwether [AFI](https://catalog.afi.com/Catalog/MovieDetails/19580).

What happened to Namu?

Namu died at the Seattle Marine Aquarium on July 9, 1966, roughly a year after arriving in Seattle. Historical accounts report that an acute bacterial infection contributed to his death.

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