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Description

GUNNAR ("Guu-Narh"; Norse for "fighter") ♂

General Data
Species: Orcinus orca / Killer whale / Orca
Subspecies: 100% Icelandic / Type 1 Eastern North Atlantic
DOB: ?/?/1997 (estimated)
DOD: 4/28/2025 (aged 28)
COD: Complications from pneumonia, exacerbated by old age
Length: 19 ft. / 5.79 mtrs.
Weight: 10,000 lbs. / 4535 kilos
Category: Drywork, all trainer levels; waterwork, experienced trainers only

Differentiating Characteristics
- Orange/amber eyes
- "Chili pepper" shaped eyepatches
- Dorsal fin fully collapsed to left side
- Large, closed, extended saddle patch
- Solid black flukes

Secondary Reinforcers
- Bridge (whistle and tone)
- Tactile: back, pectoral fins, and tail flukes (the latter being a voluntary act, rarely offered)
- Verbal praise
- Bird feathers
- Periods of isolation
- Kelp
- Familiar toys
- Exclusive interaction time with Kopa, Enzi, and Zuri

Finds Aversive
- Strangers
- Prolonged gated separation from Kopa, Enzi, and Zuri
- Unfamiliar whales of non-Icelandic origin
- Social displacement by unfamiliar whales
- Lengthy training sessions / medical procedures

Behavioral Tendencies
- Sleeping whenever not in session, interacting with other whales, etc.
- Mouthing of artificial rocks or concrete surfaces
- Lashing out at unfamiliar experiences/surprises
- Baiting/hunting seabirds
- Indifference to unfamiliar people

Behavioral Incidents
- 2010: "Jaw pop" at veterinary staff during an AI sample-collecting session. No further complications noted.
- 2013: Open-mouthed vocalization, headbutted closed pool gate after three hours' separation from Kopa and Enzi. No injury to animal reported.
- 2017: Shortly after transfer, struck viewing window with tail flukes during a local press conference. (Northcentral Seaquarium)
- 2017 (three months later): Unexpectedly dumped a trainer, standing on his back, during a waterworks training session, possibly due to cue misunderstanding. No injury occurred. (Northcentral Aquarium)
- 2017: Attacked Jigsaw. See summary.
- 2017: Pulled trainer into show pool during feeding session. Trainer allowed to exit. No injury reported.
- 2020: Open-mouthed lunge at trainer during basic husbandry session with Zuri. No injury reported.
- 2021: Pushed trainer about holding pool, close-mouthed, without responding to recall, for five minutes. No injuries reported.

Summary
Gunnar was a sexually-mature male orca. He sired four calves in total:
- ♂ Enzi, 2011, natural conception, bore by Kopa
- ♀ Akello, 2017, AI, bore by Queeky
- ♀ Zuri, 2018, natural conception, bore by Kopa
- ♂ Augustus, 2022, AI, bore by Maylea (NCS)

He was originally taken from the waters of eastern Iceland (at the approximate age of six-years-old) in September 2003. He was collected at the request of local officials who had spent the last four months prior trying to drive the solitary calf out of major fishing fjords. This was done so for his safety and that of small-craft boaters. No trace of his original pod was ever found. Experts' suggestions included the theory that he was the only calf produced by a small, dwindling matriline, the last breeding female of which (presumably his mother) had died off, and none of the remaining animals saw fit to adopt him, later scattering.

From October 2003 to August 2006, Gunnar was shuttled between various dolphinariums across mainland Europe. Marine facilities in North America were all at capacity, and any deals that were discussed to eventually sell him to one of those parks proved unsuccessful. Presumably, none of the potential buyers were interested in taking in a problematic young orca whose antics had already attracted so much negative attention from the press, with regard as to why he could not be returned to the North Atlantic. The three years Gunnar spent in Europe were usually in isolated circumstances, among captive pods of bottlenose dolphins, whose acceptance of him ranged from tolerable indifference to vicious harassment. Gunnar lapsed into something of a depression, often spending his days floating in place, sleeping, or staring at his reflection where possible, and lost whatever affinity he once had for humans in that time. The dolphins' company, through result of their actions, was not worthy of his attention. The promise of food became his only real motivation for complying with trained commands.

Gunnar was eventually sold to the newly-minted Moreton Bay Oceanarium in Brisbane, Australia at age nine. He was the first male orca acquired by said park, and the second after a captive-bred female named Kopa.

Socially, Gunnar was anywhere between calmly indifferent to those around him, to extremely selective when it came to who he actively preferred to spend time with. Though he was of low rank, and showed general disinterest or aversion to those whales that were not of his dialect, he was not reluctant to show defensive aggression rather than submit to displacement by higher-ranking animals. He was also noted to show overprotective tendencies toward perceived threats to younger orcas, specifically Enzi, Zuri, Akello and sometimes Nuni.

Throughout the remainder of his life at Moreton Bay, he was the closest to Kopa. Despite that they were not of the same ecotype, and that this communication barrier sometimes proved problematic, both showed a greater sense of affection for each other in light of the relative isolation they had both endured prior to being introduced (namely Kopa's being removed from the park she was born at, versus Gunnar's somehow becoming an orphan in the wild). Many days they could be seen swimming in the mother-calf position, or side by side, with Enzi and/or Zuri following. Their routines in shows were often dovetailed, with Kopa providing the high energy behaviors while Gunnar took to cued interactions with the trainers and audiences.

In 2017, Gunnar, Kopa, and their six-year-old son Enzi were flown to the Northcentral Seaquarium, while Moreton Bay's orca exhibit underwent a six-month-long renovation. Gunnar took the 'vacation' in stride, despite the fact that he was completely left out of show routines. With his calm nature, he integrated well into the temporarily-larger pod, and tolerated the antics of Enzi and Northcentral's resident calves - Azule, Kalea, and Konani - better than was expected.

Upon return to Brisbane, and given the chance to meet Skate, Queeky, and Jigsaw, Gunnar took to acting toward each new tankmate differently. He warmed up to Skate the easiest, given the younger bull's submissive and meek personality was not unlike Enzi's chronic shyness. Queeky's varying moods didn't always allow for Gunnar to co-exist easily with her, but no outstanding incidents between them were ever reported. Jigsaw, the most dominating of the three, seemed to inspire the most aggression in Gunnar, as he did not always take kindly toward her bully-like antics in socializing with the other orcas. He had been noted to rake and shove her in retaliation for acting so unruly, especially around Enzi or Kopa. One such biting altercation left Jigsaw with noticable injuries across her upper back, so severe as to require her to be isolated from the group for a week.

In the years to come, following the births of other calves at MBO, Gunnar proved to be a benign character. His protectiveness over Enzi remained, but he tolerated the various youngsters and their personalities without much drama.

Gunnar showed an active interest in people only prior to maturity, in which time he gradually grew up to become a sullen, aloof individual. He was reliable to a fault when it came to performances and medical sessions. Attempts were made to familiarize him with waterworks, using trainers whom had worked with him the most. From the start, Gunnar seemed unaware of his own strength, awkward, and very leery of the idea of people in the water with him, often overcompensating and 'roughing up' whomever it was during a given session. He could tolerate simple feats such as a person standing balanced on his upper back and swimming slowly. But his failure to remain at the surface, and accidentally "dropping" whomever was working with him by diving without warning, did not make him suitable for advanced behaviors to ever be attempted.

Usually, laziness was the chief cause of Gunnar's unwillingness to comply with given signals. He typically would spend his free time sleeping or swimming laps, seldom interacting with those he did not know. After the birth of Enzi, and later Zuri, he showed more energy in the interests of keeping his offspring entertained. This usually manifested in chaperoning Enzi on bird-baiting exploits, and accompanying Zuri on training/husbandry sessions, even if his presence wasn't necessarily called for.

Gunnar died on April 28th, 2025, following several weeks of battling a recurring case of severe pneumonia. Signs of respiratory distress (wheezing and prolonged time at the water's surface) were first noted in December 2024. Bloodwork revealed an elevated white cell count, and antibiotics were administered. As his appetite dwindled and his weight decreased over the coming weeks, he was taken out of routines, confined to the medical pool and put on a round-the-clock watch. Show routines were reduced in number to provide long periods of quiet time. When it became clear his weight showed no signs of picking up, and his white cell count decreased as his immune system failed him in his advanced age, after several weeks of treatment, Gunnar died quietly in the early morning hours before the sun rose, with Kopa at his side.

Facility: sta.sh/0fz0lw5377q

Relatives
Grandmothers: unknown
Grandfathers: unknown
Mother: unknown
Father: unknown
Sisters: unknown
Brothers: unknown
Daughters: Akello, Zuri
Sons: Enzi , Augustus
Granddaughters: Kaydence
Grandsons: Falkor
Half-Sisters: unknown
Half-Brothers: unknown
Nieces: unknown
Nephews: unknown
Aunts: unknown
Uncles: unknown
Cousins: unknown

Tankmates
Moreton Bay Oceanarium [2006 - 2025]
Kopa [2006-2025]
Enzi [2011-2025]
Jigsaw [2017-2025]
Queeky [2017-2023] [deceased]
Skate [2017-2021] [deceased]
Peachykins [2017-present]
Akello [2017-present] ref unavailable
Zuri [2018-2025]
Nuni [2019-2025]

Northcentral Seaquarium [2017]
Azule [2017]
Kalea [2017]
Konani [2017]
Maylea [2017]
Mele [2017]
Oriana [2017]

His early history, from capture to early years at MBO, has been written in the short story series "Wrenched":

Best of Gunnar:

Description

GUNNAR ("Guu-Narh"; Norse for "fighter") ♂

General Data
Species: Orcinus orca / Killer whale / Orca
Subspecies: 100% Icelandic / Type 1 Eastern North Atlantic
DOB: ?/?/1997 (estimated)
DOD: 4/28/2025 (aged 28)
COD: Complications from pneumonia, exacerbated by old age
Length: 19 ft. / 5.79 mtrs.
Weight: 10,000 lbs. / 4535 kilos
Category: Drywork, all trainer levels; waterwork, experienced trainers only

Differentiating Characteristics
- Orange/amber eyes
- "Chili pepper" shaped eyepatches
- Dorsal fin fully collapsed to left side
- Large, closed, extended saddle patch
- Solid black flukes

Secondary Reinforcers
- Bridge (whistle and tone)
- Tactile: back, pectoral fins, and tail flukes (the latter being a voluntary act, rarely offered)
- Verbal praise
- Bird feathers
- Periods of isolation
- Kelp
- Familiar toys
- Exclusive interaction time with Kopa, Enzi, and Zuri

Finds Aversive
- Strangers
- Prolonged gated separation from Kopa, Enzi, and Zuri
- Unfamiliar whales of non-Icelandic origin
- Social displacement by unfamiliar whales
- Lengthy training sessions / medical procedures

Behavioral Tendencies
- Sleeping whenever not in session, interacting with other whales, etc.
- Mouthing of artificial rocks or concrete surfaces
- Lashing out at unfamiliar experiences/surprises
- Baiting/hunting seabirds
- Indifference to unfamiliar people

Behavioral Incidents
- 2010: "Jaw pop" at veterinary staff during an AI sample-collecting session. No further complications noted.
- 2013: Open-mouthed vocalization, headbutted closed pool gate after three hours' separation from Kopa and Enzi. No injury to animal reported.
- 2017: Shortly after transfer, struck viewing window with tail flukes during a local press conference. (Northcentral Seaquarium)
- 2017 (three months later): Unexpectedly dumped a trainer, standing on his back, during a waterworks training session, possibly due to cue misunderstanding. No injury occurred. (Northcentral Aquarium)
- 2017: Attacked Jigsaw. See summary.
- 2017: Pulled trainer into show pool during feeding session. Trainer allowed to exit. No injury reported.
- 2020: Open-mouthed lunge at trainer during basic husbandry session with Zuri. No injury reported.
- 2021: Pushed trainer about holding pool, close-mouthed, without responding to recall, for five minutes. No injuries reported.

Summary
Gunnar was a sexually-mature male orca. He sired four calves in total:
- ♂ Enzi, 2011, natural conception, bore by Kopa
- ♀ Akello, 2017, AI, bore by Queeky
- ♀ Zuri, 2018, natural conception, bore by Kopa
- ♂ Augustus, 2022, AI, bore by Maylea (NCS)

He was originally taken from the waters of eastern Iceland (at the approximate age of six-years-old) in September 2003. He was collected at the request of local officials who had spent the last four months prior trying to drive the solitary calf out of major fishing fjords. This was done so for his safety and that of small-craft boaters. No trace of his original pod was ever found. Experts' suggestions included the theory that he was the only calf produced by a small, dwindling matriline, the last breeding female of which (presumably his mother) had died off, and none of the remaining animals saw fit to adopt him, later scattering.

From October 2003 to August 2006, Gunnar was shuttled between various dolphinariums across mainland Europe. Marine facilities in North America were all at capacity, and any deals that were discussed to eventually sell him to one of those parks proved unsuccessful. Presumably, none of the potential buyers were interested in taking in a problematic young orca whose antics had already attracted so much negative attention from the press, with regard as to why he could not be returned to the North Atlantic. The three years Gunnar spent in Europe were usually in isolated circumstances, among captive pods of bottlenose dolphins, whose acceptance of him ranged from tolerable indifference to vicious harassment. Gunnar lapsed into something of a depression, often spending his days floating in place, sleeping, or staring at his reflection where possible, and lost whatever affinity he once had for humans in that time. The dolphins' company, through result of their actions, was not worthy of his attention. The promise of food became his only real motivation for complying with trained commands.

Gunnar was eventually sold to the newly-minted Moreton Bay Oceanarium in Brisbane, Australia at age nine. He was the first male orca acquired by said park, and the second after a captive-bred female named Kopa.

Socially, Gunnar was anywhere between calmly indifferent to those around him, to extremely selective when it came to who he actively preferred to spend time with. Though he was of low rank, and showed general disinterest or aversion to those whales that were not of his dialect, he was not reluctant to show defensive aggression rather than submit to displacement by higher-ranking animals. He was also noted to show overprotective tendencies toward perceived threats to younger orcas, specifically Enzi, Zuri, Akello and sometimes Nuni.

Throughout the remainder of his life at Moreton Bay, he was the closest to Kopa. Despite that they were not of the same ecotype, and that this communication barrier sometimes proved problematic, both showed a greater sense of affection for each other in light of the relative isolation they had both endured prior to being introduced (namely Kopa's being removed from the park she was born at, versus Gunnar's somehow becoming an orphan in the wild). Many days they could be seen swimming in the mother-calf position, or side by side, with Enzi and/or Zuri following. Their routines in shows were often dovetailed, with Kopa providing the high energy behaviors while Gunnar took to cued interactions with the trainers and audiences.

In 2017, Gunnar, Kopa, and their six-year-old son Enzi were flown to the Northcentral Seaquarium, while Moreton Bay's orca exhibit underwent a six-month-long renovation. Gunnar took the 'vacation' in stride, despite the fact that he was completely left out of show routines. With his calm nature, he integrated well into the temporarily-larger pod, and tolerated the antics of Enzi and Northcentral's resident calves - Azule, Kalea, and Konani - better than was expected.

Upon return to Brisbane, and given the chance to meet Skate, Queeky, and Jigsaw, Gunnar took to acting toward each new tankmate differently. He warmed up to Skate the easiest, given the younger bull's submissive and meek personality was not unlike Enzi's chronic shyness. Queeky's varying moods didn't always allow for Gunnar to co-exist easily with her, but no outstanding incidents between them were ever reported. Jigsaw, the most dominating of the three, seemed to inspire the most aggression in Gunnar, as he did not always take kindly toward her bully-like antics in socializing with the other orcas. He had been noted to rake and shove her in retaliation for acting so unruly, especially around Enzi or Kopa. One such biting altercation left Jigsaw with noticable injuries across her upper back, so severe as to require her to be isolated from the group for a week.

In the years to come, following the births of other calves at MBO, Gunnar proved to be a benign character. His protectiveness over Enzi remained, but he tolerated the various youngsters and their personalities without much drama.

Gunnar showed an active interest in people only prior to maturity, in which time he gradually grew up to become a sullen, aloof individual. He was reliable to a fault when it came to performances and medical sessions. Attempts were made to familiarize him with waterworks, using trainers whom had worked with him the most. From the start, Gunnar seemed unaware of his own strength, awkward, and very leery of the idea of people in the water with him, often overcompensating and 'roughing up' whomever it was during a given session. He could tolerate simple feats such as a person standing balanced on his upper back and swimming slowly. But his failure to remain at the surface, and accidentally "dropping" whomever was working with him by diving without warning, did not make him suitable for advanced behaviors to ever be attempted.

Usually, laziness was the chief cause of Gunnar's unwillingness to comply with given signals. He typically would spend his free time sleeping or swimming laps, seldom interacting with those he did not know. After the birth of Enzi, and later Zuri, he showed more energy in the interests of keeping his offspring entertained. This usually manifested in chaperoning Enzi on bird-baiting exploits, and accompanying Zuri on training/husbandry sessions, even if his presence wasn't necessarily called for.

Gunnar died on April 28th, 2025, following several weeks of battling a recurring case of severe pneumonia. Signs of respiratory distress (wheezing and prolonged time at the water's surface) were first noted in December 2024. Bloodwork revealed an elevated white cell count, and antibiotics were administered. As his appetite dwindled and his weight decreased over the coming weeks, he was taken out of routines, confined to the medical pool and put on a round-the-clock watch. Show routines were reduced in number to provide long periods of quiet time. When it became clear his weight showed no signs of picking up, and his white cell count decreased as his immune system failed him in his advanced age, after several weeks of treatment, Gunnar died quietly in the early morning hours before the sun rose, with Kopa at his side.

Facility: sta.sh/0fz0lw5377q

Relatives
Grandmothers: unknown
Grandfathers: unknown
Mother: unknown
Father: unknown
Sisters: unknown
Brothers: unknown
Daughters: Akello, Zuri
Sons: Enzi , Augustus
Granddaughters: Kaydence
Grandsons: Falkor
Half-Sisters: unknown
Half-Brothers: unknown
Nieces: unknown
Nephews: unknown
Aunts: unknown
Uncles: unknown
Cousins: unknown

Tankmates
Moreton Bay Oceanarium [2006 - 2025]
Kopa [2006-2025]
Enzi [2011-2025]
Jigsaw [2017-2025]
Queeky [2017-2023] [deceased]
Skate [2017-2021] [deceased]
Peachykins [2017-present]
Akello [2017-present] ref unavailable
Zuri [2018-2025]
Nuni [2019-2025]

Northcentral Seaquarium [2017]
Azule [2017]
Kalea [2017]
Konani [2017]
Maylea [2017]
Mele [2017]
Oriana [2017]

His early history, from capture to early years at MBO, has been written in the short story series "Wrenched":

Best of Gunnar: