First Baby Orca Born To Captivity-Raised Mother

Tuesday, October 14, 2008
KAMOGAWA, JAPAN - A killer whale that was born and bred in captivity gave birth at an aquarium on Monday, the first birth of its kind in Japan.

"Lovey" gave birth at Kamogawa Sea World in Kamogawa on Monday. The baby is reportedly healthy and swimming along with its mother.

It's the first time a killer whale born in captivity has ever given birth in Japan. Breeding killer whales in captivity is extremely difficult, and just 50 percent or so of whales born this way develop normally.

The baby whale's tail was first spotted at 8:55 a.m. on Monday, with the birth finishing 3 hours later, to cheers from visitors.

The aquarium plans to suspend the killer whale shows to observe the baby's growth. It hasn't been decided when the baby will be put on public display.

The baby measures about 2 meters in length and weighs an estimated 160 to 180 kilograms. Its gender is not known.

Lovey was born at the aquarium in 1998. She was found to be pregnant two months after mating with a male killer whale, named Oscar, at the aquarium in April last year.

Source: The Mainichi Daily News