SeaWorld San Antonio Confirms Killer Whale Died After Fungal Infection

A SeaWorld San Antonio killer whale died after suffering a fungal infection at the theme park.
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SeaWorld San Antonio Confirms Killer Whale Died After Fungal Infection
A female orca leaps from the water in a Jan. 18, 2014 file photo. (Elaine Thompson/File Photo via AP)
The Associated Press
12/26/2015
Updated:
12/26/2015

SAN ANTONIO  — A killer whale at SeaWorld San Antonio has died after suffering from a fungal infection.

The San Antonio Express-News (http://bit.ly/1Phpge0 ) reports the park said it would conduct a necropsy to determine the cause of the Monday death of the killer whale named Unna.

In this handout photo provided by SeaWorld San Diego, members of SeaWorld's zoological team watch as a baby killer whale takes a breath at SeaWorld San Diego's Shamu Stadium February 14, 2013 in San Diego, California. (Mike Aguilera/SeaWorld San Diego via Getty Images)
In this handout photo provided by SeaWorld San Diego, members of SeaWorld's zoological team watch as a baby killer whale takes a breath at SeaWorld San Diego's Shamu Stadium February 14, 2013 in San Diego, California. (Mike Aguilera/SeaWorld San Diego via Getty Images)

According to a news release, the 18-year-old whale contracted a strain of fungus called Candida and was under the care of the park’s veterinary team in recent months.

Unna is the third whale to die at the park in the past six months. The park canceled all killer whale shows Monday.

SeaWorld’s killer whale shows have been a source of controversy since the critical “Blackfish” documentary was released in 2013. The company announced last month that it was phasing out orca shows at its San Diego park.