Cuddles the Killer Whale

Cuddles the Killer Whale

1. Used to live at Flamingo Park, Yorkshire

   • Lived with couple dolphins and possibly a begula

2. Moved to Dudley Zoo in 1971

   • Pool was 15m long, 6m wide & 3.5m deep

3. First killer whale used in an attempt to AI a female named Calypso (who lived at Cleethorpes Marineland)

4. Time in captivity: 1968-1974

5. Was captured from a J or L pod of orcas in October 1968 in Washington, along with 65 members of his family

6. Most of relatives were re-released but Cuddles was kept as he was the smallest (351cm) and youngest

7. Became aggressive around 1969-1970. Keepers had to clean pool from shark cage

8. Cuddles suffered from serious intestinal ulcers & bleeding pool turned red

9. Doug Cartlidge resigned after Cuddles was moved, as he disagreed with his welfare

10. Died from a broken rib, which developed in an abscess and infection