SeaWorld has a new baby: a killer whale born tonight.Katina, a 34-year-old female, gave birth to her seventh calf tonight at 7:28 p.m., a SeaWorld spokesman said.
The great-grandmother went into labor at 6:47 p.m. and delivered a 7-foot-long, 350-pound calf. It swam to the surface moments later for its first breath, the park said.
Mother and calf are bonding, and veterinarians and caretakers are making sure the baby starts to nurse, park spokesman Nick Gollattscheck said. The sex of the calf won't be known for a while.
Tonight's news was welcome for the Orlando theme park, where the firstborn of Katina's calves, Kalina, 25, died suddenly on Monday. Results of a necropsy could take up to six weeks. In June, Taima, a 20-year-old female, died at the park giving birth to a stillborn calf.
The new calf's father is Tilikum, a 12,000-pound male who in February drowned a SeaWorld trainer in front of park patrons. The death made national news.
According to an online profile, Katina is the most successful whale mother in captivity and the oldest orca at SeaWorld Orlando.
The newest calf is the 16th born at SeaWorld Orlando and the 27th at all three SeaWorld parks in the U.S.
NOTE: Here are two videos of the births and the moments after. =)
FANS! The calf shouldn't just remember Dawn! What about Taima,kalina,Sumar? Name suggestions:
ReplyDeleteFemale-Hali'a meaning "cherished memory" remembering all of them and the joyous time!
male-Hoku meaning "Star" in hawaiian. Stars bring guidance,hope,joy,and brightness just like Hoku does to EVERYONE!
Pass this down and tell everyone including the trainers if you agree with me!
-Faith Lululemon-