15th February 2013...SeaWorld San Diego in California yesterday welcomed the birth of its newest baby killer whale, weighing in at approximately 350 pounds (158kg) and 7 feet long, the calf is the sixth successful killer whale birth in the park’s 49-year history.
After a nearly 18-month gestation, Kasatka gave birth at the Shamu Stadium under the watchful eyes of the SeaWorld’s zoological team members after more than an hour of labour. Seconds later, the baby whale instinctively swam to the water’s surface to take its first breath. The park’s zoological team members report the mother and baby appear to be healthy, but as with any newborn, the first few days are critical, with the calf’s sex is yet to be determined.
Mike Scarpuzzi, vice president of zoological operations said: “The mother and baby appear to be doing very well and our initial observations indicate this is a strong healthy calf.”
Back to news
