SeaWorld San Diego answers KBPS questions regarding its breeding program in light of newly proposed legislation aimed at stopping breeding and performances by orcas in the State of California.
Provided by Dave Koontz, SeaWorld San Diego 3/10/2014
1.How is SeaWorld's breeding program used in research of orcas? For instance, what is learned from breeding in captivity, how has this research benefited the scientific community?
Studies at SeaWorld have added significantly to the natural history of killer whales. It is important for scientists and conservationists to understand wild killer whale reproductive patterns so they can better understand the growth of those populations. Through studying the reproductive patterns of the killer whale population at SeaWorld, we've learned a great deal about how killer whales produce healthy offspring. Those insights are critical to understanding the reproduction and development of whales in the wild, where these patterns would be virtually impossible to study in the wild. One difficulty with observing wild whales is that the only reliable way to determine pregnancy is in hindsight - after a killer whale is seen with a calf by its side.Because field observations are seasonal, that usually doesn't even occur until the calf is almost one year old.While researchers can visually assess how many times wild whales have older calves, they have no way to know if the intervals between calves include failed pregnancies or neonatal losses. To get an accurate benchmark for what wild pregnancy rates could be, the scientific community first needs accurate data on killer whale pregnancy, including how long females go between pregnancies, and how long they are pregnant.The answers to these questions and more have come from SeaWorld. We have publications dealing with whale pregnancy, reproductive hormones, cycling, birthing, nursing and information on calves less than six months of age. And of course successful gestation and birth is just the beginning. The successes of our thriving killer whale breeding program also provides scientists with information and data on what is required for healthy calf development.We can study calves' nursing patterns and even determine the composition of a mother killer whale's milk.This is another example of data that is only available through access to the trained whales in our care.
2.Does SeaWorld San Diego retain orcas breed here? Do they stay in San Diego?
Since we strive to create and maintain stable social groups, movement between these groups only occurs if we feel it is the best interest, medically or behaviorally, for that animal or the collection as a whole. By developing these capabilities we not only aid the understanding of wild animal populations, but we can avoid transporting animals solely for the purpose of maintaining genetic fitness. Killer whales in San Diego are a part of our zoological collection, which includes animals in most of our 11 parks. Once animals are in late adolescence or are adults (reproductively mature), they may be moved within our parks and to other accredited zoological institutions.
3.How many orcas have been involved in San Diego's SeaWorld breeding program?
All of our adult whales are candidates for our breeding program.
4.How long has SanDiego's Sea World been involved in breeding/reproduction of orcas and how is this coordinated with other parks?
The first calf a female was born in September 1985 at SeaWorld Orlando. The calf, named Kalina, thrived and reached adulthood. Kalina has since had a calf of her own-the first second-generation killer whale calf born in a zoological park.
SeaWorld of San Diego had its first killer whale calf in 1988, a female named Orkid who currently lives at the park today. The park has since had six calves, and in 2001, one of those calves was the first born after artificial insemination.
5.What has Sea World's research found regarding life span of killer whale's in captivity vs. in the wild?
While studies continue to define the average life span of killer whales in the wild, the most recent science suggests that the life spans of killer whales at SeaWorld are comparable to those in the wild. Currently at SeaWorld, five killer whales are older than 30 with one being close to 50.
6.When breeding, does SeaWorld San Diego keep killer whale moms and calves together?
We do not separate killer whale moms and calves. SeaWorld recognizes the important bond between mother and calf. On the rare occasion that a mother killer whale cannot care for the calf herself, we have successfully hand raised and reintroduced the calf. Whales are only moved to maintain a healthy social structure.