Kayla the killer whale passes away at SeaWorld Orlando

SeaWorld Orlando announced in a statement this morning that Kayla, a 30-year-old female orca, has died.

Kayla passed away with her animal care specialists by her side early in the morning on Jan. 28, 2019. The exact cause of her death will not be known until a post-mortem examination is complete and the results are delivered, which could take several weeks.

“The entire SeaWorld family is deeply saddened by the loss,” said SeaWorld in the statement.

Kayla started to show signs of discomfort this past Saturday afternoon, Jan. 26. Her care team immediately began treatment based on a physical examination. The orca’s condition became worse on Sunday, Jan. 27. Despite round-the-clock care from her animal care specialists and veterinarians, the orca did not survive.

“While today is a difficult day for all of us at SeaWorld, Kayla inspired generations of guests and employees to care and learn more about this amazing species,” said SeaWorld.

To learn more about SeaWorld Orlando and the care they provide their animals, visit SeaWorld.com/Orlando.