SAN DIEGO (CNS) - Keet the killer whale was returned Monday to SeaWorld San Diego, where the orca was previously on display, from the company's park in San Antonio.
The 19-year-old, 7,000-pound orca arrived at Lindbergh Field around 5 a.m. and was trucked to SeaWorld, a usually short drive that took nearly two hours, said SeaWorld's Dave Koontz.
Keet was born in San Antonio in 1993 and spent five years in San Diego before going back to Texas, according to Koontz. He said animals are moved around SeaWorld's park system periodically as part of a zoological management plan.
SeaWorld also has a location in Orlando.
Keet explored his new pools after his arrival and was reintroduced to Corky, SeaWorld San Diego's oldest whale -- believed to be in her late 40s, Koontz said.
Keet's arrival gives SeaWorld San Diego eight orcas. He will be introduced to the rest of the group in the next several days, Koontz said.