Is the worst over for SeaWorld? (CNN) — Kayla, one of SeaWorld’s oldest remaining orcas, has died after first showing “signs of discomfort” two days earlier, the chain of animal theme parks said. The 30-year-old female orca died Monday morning, with animal care specialists by her side, SeaWorld said in a statement. “The exact cause of death will not be known until the results of a post-mortem examination are complete, which may take several weeks,” it said. “The entire SeaWorld family is deeply saddened by the loss.” Kayla had no major health concerns but first showed signs of an issue Saturday afternoon, and her condition worsened over the next two days, SeaWorld said. It described Kayla a couple years ago as a “graceful, intelligent, athletic” orca. SeaWorld Kayla, a 30-year-old female orca, died Monday, SeaWorld says. Five orcas remain at SeaWorld Orlando. An animal care specialist and veterinarians tried to help the orca recover, but she died at about 12:15 a.m. Monday at SeaWorld Orlando. “While this is very difficult for all of us at SeaWorld, Kayla inspired generations of guests and employees to care and learn more about this amazing species,” the organization said. Across its three parks, SeaWorld has 20 orcas, also known as killer whales, remaining, according to its statement. After Kayla’s death, SeaWorld Orlando has five, including three females and two males. The death comes several years after SeaWorld announced it was ending its orca breeding program amid criticism about how it treated the orcas in captivity. The 2013 CNN documentary film “Blackfish” highlighted the issue, telling the story of a SeaWorld trainer killed by the 12,000-pound orca Tilikum in 2010. The orcas in SeaWorld’s care are the last generation of the mammals to be enclosed at the water parks, the company said in 2016. SeaWorld said it was moving away from theatrical killer whale shows and moving toward educational programs. CNN’s Joe Sutton and Rebekah Riess contributed to this report.<doc-sep>A 30-year-old orca whale has died in captivity at SeaWorld in Orlando, Florida, after a short illness. Kayla the whale started to show signs of stress and discomfort throughout Saturday, but by Sunday, her condition continued to deteriorate. Despite vets working around the clock to try and save the animal, Kayla passed away on Monday. The cause of death remains unclear and a post mortem is due to take place. Commenting on the whale’s unexpected death, SeaWorld said: “While today is a difficult day for all of us at SeaWorld, Kayla inspired generations of guests and employees to care and learn more about this amazing species.” According to National Geographic, killer whales can live anywhere between 50 to 80 years in the wild. Animal rights organisation Peta puts the average lifespan of a whale in captivity at SeaWorld at a mere 14 years. “She never got to swim in the ocean. Kayla was forced to move around the country from park to park & heartbreakingly lost babies over the years,” Peta wrote on Twitter. Amid concerns over the welfare of the whales in captivity, UK tour operator Thomas Cook stopped selling tickets to marine parks, including SeaWorld, in 2018. This decision was taken after holidaymakers raised concerns about the animals to the tour operator.<doc-sep>Kayla, one of the remaining orca whales at SeaWorld, died suddenly in Orlando on Monday, the company said in a statement. She was 30 years old. According to the theme park, Kayla started to appear uncomfortable Saturday afternoon. Veterinarians administered treatment based on a physical exam. Kayla's condition worsened over the next couple of days, and she passed away with animal care specialists and veterinarians by her side. "Any loss of a SeaWorld family member brings great sadness," the company said in a statement. "Kayla’s care team shares a special bond with her and is deeply saddened by her death." The exact cause of death is unknown. A post-mortem exam will take several weeks to complete, according to the company. Orcas in the wild can live up to 80 or 90 years, Naomi Rose, a marine-mammal scientist at the Animal Welfare Institute, told the Orlando Sentinel. “That’s like literally being a 30-year-old woman," Rose said. "Dying at 30 is not normal.” Kayla's death comes a few years after SeaWorld made significant changes to its orca program. In 2016, the company announced it would stop breeding the whales and phase out theatrical orca shows – pledging to do the latter in the Orlando park by 2019. The move came nearly three years after SeaWorld faced scrutiny for its treatment of orcas and their trainers in the documentary Blackfish. More:SeaWorld bets on rides, attractions instead of killer whales More:Is SeaWorld mounting a comeback? New rides boost attendance as 'Blackfish' turmoil fades More:Ride review: SeaWorld’s Infinity Falls has world’s tallest drop on a river raft ride At the heart of that documentary is an orca named Tilikum, who unintentionally drowned his trainer at SeaWorld in 2010. Tilikum died in January 2017. Following Kayla's death, 20 orcas remain across SeaWorld's three parks in Orlando, San Antonio and San Diego. Five are located in Orlando. In response to Kayla's death, the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals said it will host two memorial services this week. "While we recognize that it's too late to help her, it's not too late to call attention to SeaWorld's other orca prisoners, who must be released into seaside sanctuaries as soon as possible," the organization said in a statement. Follow USA TODAY intern Ben Tobin on Twitter: @TobinBen<doc-sep>
Park officials at SeaWorld Orlando were devastated by the sudden death of a 30-year-old orca named Kayla — one of the last remaining orcas at the facility — on Monday. The orca became ill on Saturday and her health continued to plummet throughout the weekend. “Her veterinarians immediately began treatment based on a physical examination," SeaWorld explained in a news release. "Although animal care specialists and veterinarians devoted around the clock attention to Kayla, she did not survive." HUMPBACK WHALES LUNGE TOWARD CALIFORNIA BOAT IN SHOCKING VIDEO The Orlando park said Kayla "inspired generations of guests and employees to care and learn" about the species, adding that employees were "deeply saddened" by the loss. Dr. Naomi Rose, a marine-mammal scientist at the Animal Welfare Institute, described the whale's death as unusual. “That’s like literally being a 30-year-old woman. Dying at 30 is not normal,” Rose told the Orlando Sentinel, adding that "30 is prime of life" for orcas and they typically live to at least 50. “That’s like literally being a 30-year-old woman. Dying at 30 is not normal." — Dr. Naomi Rose It remains unclear exactly what caused Kayla's sudden sickness. A cause of death won't be known until a post-mortem examination is conducted, SeaWorld said. The company announced in 2016 that it had stopped its orca breeding program after years of protests by animal rights activists. SeaWorld has 20 orcas left at its parks. There are five in Orlando, five in San Antonio and 10 in San Diego. Born in 1988 at SeaWorld San Antonio, Kayla is the second-oldest orca ever born in captivity, according to WTSP. SPERM WHALE SWALLOWS 64 POUNDS OF TRASH, DIES OF 'GASTRIC SHOCK' The animal rights group PETA said its members in Florida planned to hold two protests this week outside SeaWorld's Orlando park to memorialize Kayla. "While we recognize that it's too late to help her, it's not too late to call attention to SeaWorld's other orca prisoners, who must be released into seaside sanctuaries as soon as possible," PETA said in a statement. The Associated Press contributed to this report.