SeaWorld's 'Grand Dame,' Bubbles the Pilot Whale, Dies

San Diego, CA — SeaWorld's oldest pilot whale, Bubbles, has died, according to a statement issued late Thursday.

"SeaWorld San Diego is saddened to announce the passing of one of the world's most beloved animals, Bubbles the pilot whale," said SeaWorld Spokeswoman Kelly Terry. 

The short-finned pilot whale was in her early to mid-50s. In addition to being SeaWorld's oldest pilot whale, she was oldest at any zoological park.

"She has inspired and amazed more than 100 million guests for nearly 50 years," Terry said. "Loved by her trainers and veterinarians, Bubbles had been a member of the SeaWorld family for nearly 30 years."

Many may recognize Bubbles from Dolphin Stadium at SeaWorld, where, since the 1980s, she participated in a variety of shows — jumping, diving and doing her signature air spin.

A necropsy will be performed in an effort to determine the cause of her death, according to Terry.

"It may take weeks to get results," said Terry, adding that Bubbles died in one of the back pools at Dolphin Stadium. 

"Trainers and vets were with her when she died."

As a young 12-foot-long, 1,600-pound female pilot whale, Bubbles began her expansive career in the 1960s at Marineland of the Pacific in Rancho Palos Verdes, where she was eventually given her own stadium and placed center stage. Her talent and allure made her an international superstar; she was a hit at Marineland for more than two decades. 

In 1987, Bubbles came to her new home at SeaWorld San Diego, where she became known as the "Grand Dame," according to a 2010 article.

"I’ve never known an animal with a more impressive air spin, where she jumps out of the water and spins around at lightning speed," said Bill Winhall, assistant curator at SeaWorld San Diego and one of Bubbles’ original caretakers at Marineland of the Pacific. "So much of what we do at SeaWorld today was learned in those early days."

Trainer Kristi Burtis said one of Bubbles' best traits was her diplomatic nature because she had a "knack of bringing stability to the diverse mammal community." Bubbles was fascinated by younger dolphins, but when things got too rambunctious in the pool, she and her companion, Shadow — "the pilot whale police" — would step in to calm things down, said Burtis, who worked with Bubbles for more than 10 years.

"While Bubbles will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved her, she has helped generations of park visitors gain a better appreciation for all animals and the ocean environment," Terry said.

(Photo of Bubbles courtesy of SeaWorld San Diego; Photo of Bubbles at Marineland by EditorASC via Wikimedia Commons)