Shamu is the name of SeaWorld's iconic Orca (killer whale) show. Shamu's popular performances are presented along with Baby Shamu and Grandbaby Shamu in 7-million-gallon tanks at the following SeaWorld parks:
SeaWorld Orlando in Florida
SeaWorld San Diego in California
SeaWorld San Antonio in Texas
A fourth SeaWorld park, SeaWorld Ohio, closed in 2001.
Orcas perform in Shamu Stadium, which seats 5,500. The Shamu show is the most popular show at SeaWorld, running 20 minutes and showing as many as six times a day. The highlight of the performance is the spectacular natural behaviors of orcas and the unique relationships that SeaWorld trainers have with these animals. According to the official SeaWorld website, people sitting in the first 14 rows "must be prepared to get soaked by Shamu", with water that is chilled to 55° F (13° C).
The show was recently changed at all three SeaWorld parks. The new show, dubbed "Believe", is more spiritual and involves an audience hand signal, an emotional soundtrack, and the giving of a gift to a chosen child to inspire. The new show involves multiple cameras placed around the stadium and clips of video mixed with live audience shots during the presentation and story. It also has more trainers than ever before. The name "Shamu" is actually a stage name shared by many adult orcas, male or female, at SeaWorld. The first Shamu, a female, was captured in Puget Sound in 1965 and died on August 23, 1971.
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