Ref Sheet - Sooleawa

SOOLEAWA ("Soo-lee-wah"; Algonquin for "silver")

General Data
Species: Orcinus orca / Killer whale / Orca
Subspecies: 50% Northwest Pacific Southern Resident / 50% Antarctic Specter Killer variant [fictional]
Sex: Female
DOB: 9/21/2028
Length: 6 ft. / 1.8 mtrs.
Weight: 300 lbs. / 136 kilos.
Category: has yet to begin training

Differentiating Characteristics
- Dark blue eyes
- Sharp, tapered eyepatches
- Sharply slanted dorsal fin
- Foggy yellow/gray dorsal mottling, mostly on upper back and lower tail
- Y-shaped saddle patch
- Sharp "hook" along upper edge of both flank patches
- Mottled flukes

Secondary Reinforcers
- Tactile: back and sides
- Verbal praise
- Ice

Finds Aversive
- Loud, unexpected noises
- Orcas besides Kopa and Maylea
- Displacement by Enzi
- Seabirds

Behavioral Tendencies
- Very inquisitive of her surroundings
- Easily startled
- Very vocal
- Fearful of orcas whom she does not associate with food or safety

Behavioral Incidents
- none to date -

Summary
Sooleawa is a sexually-immature female orca, born via artificial insemination between Kopa and Kemuri.

Shortly after Sooleawa's older half sister Zuri was loaned out, efforts to breed Kopa via AI resumed, as it was feared that as he matured, Enzi would accidentally mate with his mother, and an inbred calf would be the result. Over the next few months, Kopa was given the chance to mate with the exhibit's other mature males, but failed to do so. AI seemed the only course to take. Several parks across the globe vied to contribute genetic material samples for the task, but from Japan came a rather low profile offer, one the seller described as having come from a "rare and noteworthy" donor. After examining said sample for medical impurities and finding none, Moreton Bay accepted the deal, but would only pay the remainder of the price if using the sample resulted in a live calf.

Seventeen months later, after a normal, complication-free pregnancy, Sooleawa was born on a dark, cloudy night. While Kopa went into labor early in the afternoon, she didn't actually deliver her calf until after sunset - eight hours later. The exhaustive duration of the labor itself was worrying, but emergence of the flukes and birth occurred before trainers and veterinary staff were forced to intervene. The orca exhibit was closed for the following weekend so observation could be carried out without public interference, and Kopa and her newborn were confined to the show pool with "auntie" Maylea. Though her abnormal coloration was alarming, physically, Sooleawa appeared healthy, breathing and nursing at the normally-expected intervals. The following Monday, she was unveiled to the public and press. Moreton Bay's reasoning to the inquiring public is that she is leucistic.

Sooleawa (also known as "Leawa" or "Soo-Soo") has already shown an independent nature very similar to that of Zuri. She will freely leave Kopa's side to investigate people or objects she finds interesting. This has already proved somewhat problematic, as she often becomes so engrossed in associating with people (trainers, visitors, strangers, etc.) that she sometimes forgets to nurse or sleep as needed. Kopa and Maylea have adapted to this, and usually intervene if any given interaction goes on for a prolonged period of time.

However, Sooleawa appears nervous and unsure of the exhibit's other orcas, including her older half brother, Enzi. Tension has already been observed between them, but is (surprisingly) usually instigated on her part. Sooleawa will often retaliate to Enzi's pleas for their mother's attention by mouthing at his fins. Kopa, despite her protective nature, has yet to discipline her newest calf and teach her that this behavior is unacceptable.

She tended to avoid Jigsaw before the matriarch's death in 2031. She gets along considerably better with Nuni, who always behaves gently around Sooleawa. The two of them are often seen sharing enrichment objects or playing seek-and-tag (as the trainers dub the game in which one animal 'hides' and the other seeks them out).

Facility: sta.sh/0fz0lw5377q

Relatives / Tankmates:
Akello [2028-present]
Enzi [2028-present] fav.me/d4tejck
Jigsaw [2028-2031] [deceased] fav.me/d5hvg0f
Kopa [2028-present] fav.me/d4sdbkj
Maylea [2028-present] fav.me/d5pu0h8
Nuni [2028-present] fav.me/d67x2nx
Peachykins [2028-present] fav.me/d6yhjmt

Best of Sooleawa:


Lineart by *AnoOrca fav.me/d5e2n0g

Sooleawa © me