News: 'Beautiful One' is Bay area bound

Posted at 8:23 PM EDT (0023 GMT)

Apr. 8th, 2004 -- Shouka, a 10-year-old female killer whale whose name means "Beautiful One", is moving to Six Flags Marine World in Vallejo this spring from her current home in the Cleveland, Ohio, area.

The West Coast whale move will take place by plane and truck, with Shouka riding comfortably in a custom-designed watertight transport unit. Moving day for Shouka has not been announced, though Six Flags officials expect to bring the 4,000-pound, 16-foot-long killer whale to Six Flags Marine World sometime before the summer months.

Six Flags, Inc. has announced an agreement in principle for the sale of Six Flags Worlds of Adventure in Aurora, Ohio to Cedar Fair, L.P. Under the agreement, Six Flags will retain ownership of all animals located at the Ohio park.

Shouka (pronounced "Shoo-ka") was born at Marineland Antibes, a marine life park in France, and arrived at the Ohio park on a long-term loan in May 2002. She is in excellent health, energetic and eats 125 pounds of fish each day.

Four dolphins - Jasmine, Sadie, Liberty and Brisbie - all originally from Six Flags Marine World and loaned to the Ohio park four years ago, will also make the trip West with Shouka.

At Six Flags Marine World, Shouka will participate in educational shows for the public and special presentations for area school groups. The dolphins will be integrated into the Park's existing Dolphin Harbor Show and its Dolphin Discovery small group interactive education programs.

Six Flags Marine World was one of the first parks to house killer whales, beginning in 1968. Shouka will take up residence at Pacific Stadium, 2 million gallon chilled salt water, four-pool complex built for killer whales and dolphins in 1986. The facility, which is presently undergoing a multi-million dollar renovation, includes trainers' quarters, underwater observation windows, and office facilities for husbandry record keeping, and seats up to 3,000 guests.