Killer Whales Birth

Killer Whales Mating

Male killer whales reach breeding age when they are around 22 feet long while females can breed when they are about 16 feet (4.9 meters) long. Killer whales mating happens all year around. Female killer whales usually give birth every 3 to 10 years

Killer Whales Birth

15-17 months after male killer whale mated with female killer whale, the female killer whale is ready to give birth to killer whale calf. Killer whale calves are born underwater, near the surface. As soon as a killer whale calf is born, the calf swims up to the surface. Baby killer whales know not to breathe until their blowholes are safely out of the water.

Killer whales usually have just one calf at a time. When the killer whale calf is first born, the calf look similar to its mother but not exactly the same. The baby killer whale calf usually has darker saddle patch than its mother's and its white areas can be reddish in color. By the time, it is a year old, the killer whale calf's coloring will be like that of adult killer whales.

A newborn killer whale calf measures about 6.5 feet - 8 feet long and can weigh as much as 400 pounds. Killer whale calves can swim as soon so they are born, although their swimming can be a little awkward at first. A mother killer whale nurses its calf with milk. Killer whale calves begin eating fish and other ocean foods at about 4 months of age. In one year the killer whale calf will grow to be 10 feet long and weigh more than 1,000 pounds.

Killer Whale Calf

Killer whale calves like to explore. They are interested in exploring ocean life that they meet in the underwater in the ocean. Mother Killer whales will watch their calves as they explore squid, fish, seabirds, seals, other whales and dolphins. Young killer whale calves rarely leave their mothers' side.

Many killer whale calves die young

Although mother killer whales take care of their calves and rarely ever leave their side, many killer whale calves die when they are very young. They may die of illness or in accidents or get killed by predators such as large sharks.