| Species | Orca (Orcinus orca) |
|---|---|
| Sex | Male |
| Born | Unknown |
| Died | July 9, 1966 Seattle Marine Aquarium |
| Years active | 1965-1966 |
| Known for | First captive orca to perform with humans |
| Named after | Fishing port of Namu |
Namu (unknown – July 9, 1966) was a male orca unintentionally captured in 1965 from the C1 Pod of the northern resident community. He was the first captive orca to perform with a human in the water.[1] He was the subject of much media attention, including a starring role in the 1966 film Namu, the Killer Whale. Namu's captivity introduced thousands of people to orcas, and soon aquariums all over the world sought to establish captive orcas in their parks.