SAN ANTONIO,
April 20, 2017
/PRNewswire/ -- SeaWorld is excited to announce the
birth of the newest member of the SeaWorld family of killer whales.
Takara, the 25-year-old matriarch of the orca pod, gave birth to
the calf at 2:33 p.m. Central Time,
April 19, 2017, at SeaWorld San
Antonio. A team of veterinarians and animal care specialists
witnessed the historic birth and are continuing to monitor Takara
and her new baby 24-hours-a-day to help ensure a successful
start.
Guests at SeaWorld San Antonio will have the opportunity
to visit and observe Takara and her calf in the near future during
select times. Although this will be the last opportunity for
SeaWorld guests to see a baby killer whale up close as it grows and
matures, SeaWorld will continue to care for the orcas at its parks
for decades to come.
"This is an exciting and emotional day for us at SeaWorld
and we are all so proud to share this new killer whale calf with
the world, after a year and a half of planning, and observing and
providing all the special care," said Chris
Bellows, Vice President of Zoological Operations. "Takara is
a great mom and immediately began bonding with and caring for her
new baby. Everyday she inspires SeaWorld's guests to learn more
about and do more to protect animals in the wild. She is a true
ambassador."
Julie Sigman, an Assistant
Curator at SeaWorld San Antonio who has been with Takara through
three of her last pregnancies and births, expressed her excitement
at watching the calf surface to take its first breath. "Nothing can
prepare you for that moment when mom helps the calf get to the
surface for its first breath. The moment the calf is born, Takara
is 100% focused on the care and well-being of that baby. She
knows exactly what to do. It is amazing," said
Sigman.
"Takara will continuously swim with her calf as it begins
to nurse and learn," added Sigman. "We take our lead from mom,
Takara will let us know when she is ready for us to meet the calf
and at that time we should be able to determine the
gender."
Takara, born at SeaWorld San Diego, has had four other
calves, which now range in age from 3 to 15 years. Takara was
already pregnant as a result of natural breeding when the
announcement to end orca breeding was made in March 2016.
"Although this is the last killer whale birth at a
SeaWorld park, our work to understand and protect this species will
continue for decades to come," said Dr. Hendrik Nollens, Vice President of Veterinary
Services for SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment. "Takara and
her calf are an important part of not only educating the visitors
who see them at the parks, but also ongoing research that helps
marine biologists understand how to better care for and protect
orcas in the wild. We are very pleased that this birth will
be able to continue to add to this body of knowledge for this
iconic species."
The birth of Takara's calf is also the last chance for
researchers to study orca development in ways that cannot be done
in the wild, helping to benefit wild whales as well as those in
SeaWorld's care. Information learned from Takara and her calf
will add to SeaWorld's extensive database about killer whales and
their calves, contributing to studies of the endangered Southern
Resident killer whale population off the coast of Washington, where they are threatened by
pollution, overfishing and human development. The pair will provide
data and samples to studies focused on killer whale growth and
metabolism. One looks at toxin transfer in milk when babies nurse
and another will help evaluate body shape changes to understand
nutritional conditions for free-ranging killer whales. The calf,
her mom, and other whales will also be monitored by a research team
from St. Mary's University in San
Antonio to better understand the social impact of calves and
their social development within a killer whale
pod.
More than 22 million guests a year visit SeaWorld
and support its mission to deliver
experiences that matter and inspire protection of the wild
world. SeaWorld has committed $50 million over the next five years to be the
world's leading marine animal rescue organization, advocating for
wild animals and protecting our oceans. This includes a commitment
of $10 million in matching funds
dedicated to killer whale research and the creation of
a multi-million dollar partnership focused on ocean health, the
leading concern for all killer whales and marine
mammals.
About SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment
SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment™ is a leading theme
park and entertainment company providing experiences that matter
and inspiring guests to protect animals and the wild wonders of our
world. The company is one of the world's foremost zoological
organizations and a global leader in animal welfare, training,
husbandry and veterinary care. The company collectively cares for
what it believes is one of the largest zoological collections in
the world and has helped lead advances in the care of animals. The
company also rescues and rehabilitates marine and terrestrial
animals that are ill, injured, orphaned or abandoned, with the goal
of returning them to the wild. The SeaWorld® rescue team
has helped more than 29,000 animals in need over the last 50
years.
The company owns or licenses a portfolio of recognized
brands including SeaWorld, Busch Gardens® and Sea
Rescue®. Over its more than 50-year history, the company
has built a diversified portfolio of 12 destination and regional
theme parks that are grouped in key markets across the United States, many of which showcase its
one-of-a-kind zoological collection. The company's theme parks
feature a diverse array of rides, shows and other attractions with
broad demographic appeal which deliver memorable experiences and a
strong value proposition for its guests.
SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment is a wholly owned
subsidiary of SeaWorld Entertainment, Inc., a publicly traded
company. Visit www.seaworldentertainment.com
for more information.
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SOURCE SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment