At SeaWorld San Antonio, 40-year-old Martha, a beloved beluga whale passed away on Wednesday, February 25. Martha had been an original resident of the park when it opened in 1988.
It is with heavy hearts that our SeaWorld San Antonio family shares the passing of Martha, a beloved beluga whale …
Martha served as an ambassador for her species and greeted millions of guest in the 38 years she had been at the park. She also inspired a deeper appreciation of marine life and ocean conservation as well as helping teach and inspire generations of animal care specialists.
She was family, and her legacy lives on through all she inspired. Our dedicated animal care staff will continue to provide the highest level of care for the eight other belugas in our care.
According to social media reports, Martha gave birth to five calves. Four of the calves died when very young, and the fifth, named Grayson passed away at 16 years old.
Beluga whales living in the wild number between 150,000 to 200,000 and inhabit the arctic and sub-arctic waters of Alaska, Canada, Russian and Greenland. They are highly social, white-skinned arctic cetaceans and are known for their vocalizations affectionately referred to as the “canaries of the sea.”
Thousands of people have posted their condolences on the SeaWorld Facebook page.
Rest in peace Martha.
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