𝚒𝚗 𝚕𝚘𝚟𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚖𝚎𝚖𝚘𝚛𝚢 𝚘𝚏 𝙺𝙰𝚃𝙸𝙽𝙰

i thought this year was over. with barely over a week left until we could say goodbye to the horrid year that was 2025, i thought we finally had some time to breathe and look back at all of it. I was so wrong. My heart is broken all over again for the love of these whales. After Kamea, Earth, Kshamenk literally a week ago; it was blow after blow. Katina was my favorite Orlando whale and one of my top 3 favorite whales in general. Anyone who knew her knew of her up and down health. She's been dealing with a chronic respiratory condition for quite a while. We all knew this day would come eventually. This girl was basically 50 years old and already a powerhouse. Even with her condition and the at-times horrid condition of her skin, she always blew me and countless others away with her energetic behaviors despite the discomfort she's likely been in. Katina was such a strong, gorgeous whale, amazing mother, and an amazing matriarch. She fought long and hard, and she was loved. She was so SO loved by this community that it made my heart both swell and break at the same time. Tina's been the queen of Orlando for quite some time, and it's going to be VASTLY different without her. I can't even explain the way my heart dropped into the pit of my stomach when the rumors started. I felt like I could barely breathe for like the entire hour before we got confirmation. I'm glad Seaworld gave her the best life they could, and they let her go peacefully and with everyone who loved her by her side. Rest easy. sweet mama whale. we'll love you forever. vc: cetacean lover saltycetacean bondedwiththeseas sleepingwithorcasx orcinidae