http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/os-sea-world-killer-whale-born-20101009,0,4512868.story
Killer whale born at SeaWorld Orlando
Calf is seventh for Katina
see link above for picture
Killer whale Katina swims with her newest calf, born Oct. 9, 2010, at SeaWorld Orlando. (SeaWorld Orlando, SeaWorld Orlando / October 10, 2010)
SeaWorld's newest addition—a 7-foot-long, 350-pound baby killer whale—is in good physical shape and showing signs of strength hours after its birth.
Katina, a 34-year-old female, gave birth to her seventh calf last night at 7:28 p.m..
SeaWorld's Nick Gollattscheck said the birth went smoothly and the mother passed the placenta this morning—a good sign according to park vets. The baby is nursing regularly for about 10-18 seconds each time.
The great-grandmother went into labor at 6:47 p.m. and delivered the calf 45 minutes later. 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.
The 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.
Staff writer Arelis Hernandez contributed to this report. Susan Jacobson can be reached at sjacobson@orlandosentinel.com.
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