SeaWorld Orlando announced Friday night that one of its longest-tenured residents had died, closing the chapter on a life that spanned decades of shows, school trips, and generational visits.
SeaWorld Orlando operates as both theme park and a zoological facility, where trainers and veterinarians care for aging animals as much as entertain guests.
Its reputation has remained complicated since the documentary Blackfish reframed public opinion in 2013, arguing that confinement harmed captive orcas. Protests and boycotts followed, and attendance slipped at SeaWorld San Diego and SeaWorld San Antonio as activists and celebrities pushed for reform.
SeaWorld ended orca breeding, phased out theatrical whale shows, and leaned into education and thrill rides. SeaWorld Abu Dhabi opened without killer whales. Even so, scrutiny persists, and losses remain an expected reality for parks responsible for large populations of wildlife.
This week’s announcement concerned one of the park’s oldest residents.
Death Confirmed at SeaWorld
“It is with heavy hearts that we share the loss of one of our beloved walruses, Slowpoke. At approximately 49 years old, she was the oldest walrus in our care and an incredible ambassador for her species,” SeaWorld Orlando said in a statement on Facebook.
“Her animal care family cared deeply for her and provided exceptional veterinary care throughout her life and especially as she grew older. She will be profoundly missed by all. Her legacy will live on through all the lives she touched and the countless memories created.”
Slowpoke was a familiar presence in the park’s Sea Lions: Flippers, Facts & Fun show, a long-running production that mixes comedy with basic conservation education. For many families, she became part of the routine, as recognizable as any character meet-and-greet.
Her story also stretched beyond the park. Slowpoke contributed sound work to the Jurassic Park franchise, with her vocalizations used to help craft some of the series’ dinosaur roars, an unusual credit that staff often shared with guests.
At roughly 49 years old, she had outlived most walruses in human care. Consistent diets and veterinary oversight can extend lifespans, though aging animals still require intensive monitoring in their final years.
Deaths like this are not uncommon in facilities that house hundreds of marine mammals, birds, and fish. They are natural, if difficult, outcomes for institutions responsible for so much wildlife under one roof.
In December, the park also bid farewell to one of its killer whales, Katina.
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