Mar 15, 2007 2:21 pm US/Eastern
SeaWorld Welcomes New Baby Killer Whale
Baby was born March 12
Sex of calf is not yet determined
Calf weighed 350 pounds
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ORLANDO (CBS4) ―
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Baby killer whale swims alongside it's mother Taima at SeaWorld Orlando
Jason Collier, SeaWorld Orlando
Spring has sprung early at SeaWorld Orlando as the marine park welcomes its newest "pea" to the park's "pod" of killer whales.
The newest addition to the Shamu family was born on March 12th. The baby was six feet long and weighed 350-pounds at birth. Taima gave birth to the baby in Shamu Stadium, following a one-hour labor. Moments later, the baby whale instinctively swam to the surface of the water for its first breath of air. The calf began nursing within hours.
Taima is one of the most photographed killer whales in the Shamu family and is also the mother of two other killer whales. Taima was also born at SeaWorld Orlando during a 1989 thunderstorm, which is where she get's her name; "Taima" is Icelandic for "crash of thunder."
SeaWorld animal care specialists remain cautiously optimistic about the progress of the baby and its mother. The sex of the calf is yet to be determined.
The birth of this new whale brings the Orlando pod to nine whales, ranging in size from this 350-pound baby to a 12,000-pound male.
SeaWorld's killer whale breeding program is the most successful in the world. This calf is the 15th killer whale born at SeaWorld Orlando and the 23rd to be born and successfully raised throughout all three SeaWorld parks.
Killer Whale Facts•The gestation period for killer whales is about 17 months long.
•When whales are born, their dorsal fin is very soft, to aid in the birthing process.
•Baby killer whales nurse from mammary slits on their mother's belly. The milk they drink is very rich – 35% fat.
•Killer whale calves nurse for up to one year. After that, the mother will wean the calf and will teach it how to eat solid food.
(© MMVII, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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