SeaWorld's family of killer whales increases by one
SeaWorld Orlando has a new killer whale, a 7-foot-long, 350-pound calf born Monday afternoon.
The unnamed calf and its mother, Katina, are doing well but won't be immediately on view for the public, SeaWorld officials said Monday.
The calf was born at 3:23 p.m. in the park's multimillion-gallon research and breeding facility, Shamu Stadium, following a 11/2-hour labor. Moments later, the baby whale instinctively swam to the surface for its first breath of air.
SeaWorld animal-care specialists are cautiously optimistic. The next important step in the baby's development is nursing, which typically occurs within the first 24 hours. The gender of the calf won't be known until it starts swimming apart from Katina.
"We're celebrating today. It's awesome," said Laura Surovik, SeaWorld's assistant curator. "This baby is definitely a healthy, big baby. . . . She or he is already searching to go ahead and nurse."
The newborn is the 14th killer whale born at SeaWorld Orlando, the first since last November.
what great news!!!
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