killer whale
Kohana, which is Japanese for “little flower,” is
the name of SeaWorld San Diego’s newest killer whale calf (Orcinus
orca), and first Grandbaby Shamu. SeaWorld Passport members and park
guests cast votes for one of six names on the Help us name Grandbaby
Shamu ballot from July 8-31, 2002. The park’s animal care
and training teams provided the six names on the ballot and out of
15,000 votes cast, Kohana won by a two-to-one margin.
Born May 3, Kohana is progressing well. She is socializing with the
other killer whales and has started to play with the pod’s other
calf Nakai, born September 1, 2001. Both babies can be seen swimming
alongside their mothers in The Shamu Adventure.
Kohana spends most of her time staying close to her mother Takara,
watching and learning behaviors from the other whales. It is estimated
that Kohana has
gained about 200 pounds and grown about one foot. At birth she weighed
an estimated 300 to 350 pounds, and about 6 to 7 feet. Currently,
she spends five minutes nursing per day compared with 70 to 90 minutes
the first week. As the youngster continues to grow and become more
independent, nursing time decreases. Nursing may continue up to 18
months, but fish will be introduced at six months.
The young whale is the park’s first second-generation killer
whale birth and the second killer whale conceived through artificial
insemination. This birth marks the first time SeaWorld San Diego has
had three generations of killer whales. The successful artificial
insemination procedure is the result of 12 years of research conducted
under the direction of Dr. Todd Robeck, corporate director of theriogenology,
based at SeaWorld San Antonio. While killer whales are not an endangered
species, the techniques and knowledge gained from this advancement
have the potential to be applied to other cetaceans.
Learn more about
killer whales
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