A calf is about 8 feet long and weighs about 300 to 400 pounds. The fist thing a calf does at birth is let its mom take it up to the surface for its first breath of air. Calves nurse about 5 to 10 seconds at a time, about 4 times an hour all day. A baby killer whale nurses for about 12 months. Mother killer whales stay close to each other all the time. Some calves stay with their mothers their whole life; others go off and either start, lead or join a different pod.
A group of orcas is called a pod. Orcas spend most of their lives with other orcas. Pods can range from three to fifty. The pod works together to hunt. They also help each other. A pod is like a family. Sometimes in the summer or fall two pods will join together to create a super pod.
On September 26, 1985 the first killer whale was born successfully in captivity. His name was baby Shamu. Then on February 2, 1993 the very first second generation killer whale was born in the Texas Sea World. On Christmas of 1996 Katna was born in Orlando, Florida.The most successful killer whale breading program is Sea World's.
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