A calf is about 8 feet long and weighs about 300to 400 pounds. The fist thing a calf does at birth is let its momtake it up to the surface for its first breath of air. Calves nurseabout 5 to 10 seconds at a time, about 4 times an hour all day. Ababy killer whale nurses for about 12 months. Mother killer whalesstay close to each other all the time. Some calves stay with theirmothers their whole life; others go off and either start, lead orjoin a different pod.

A group of orcas is called a pod. Orcas spend mostof 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 islike a family. Sometimes in the summer or fall two pods will jointogether to create a super pod.

On September 26, 1985 the first killer whale wasborn successfully in captivity. His name was baby Shamu. Then onFebruary 2, 1993 the very first second generation killer whale wasborn in the Texas Sea World. On Christmas of 1996 Katna was born inOrlando, Florida.The most successful killer whale breading program isSea World's.