Seaworld Shamu- FAQ (KILLER WHALES)

1. How fast can killer whales swim?

A killer whale can reach speeds of 28 miles per hour. They usually swim much more slowly at about 6 to 8 miles per hour. Human Olympic swimmers can only swim at top speeds of 4.5 miles per hour.


2. What do killer whales eat?
Some killer whales, like those at SeaWorld, eat mostly fish. Other killer whales eat other marine mammals (whales, seals, and sea lions), sharks and rays, octopus and squids, seabirds such as penguins, and some even eat leatherback sea turtles.


3. How small is a baby killer whale?
Size estimates of calves born at SeaWorld suggest that newborn calves are about 2.6 m (8.5 ft.) long and weigh 120 to 160 kg (265-353 lb.).


4. How big does a killer whale get?
The killer whale is the largest member of the dolphin family Delphinidae. As with most other toothed whales, male killer whales grow larger than females. An average-size male grows to about 5.8 to 6.7 m (19-22 ft.) long. Two fully grown adult male killer whales at SeaWorld weigh 4,082 kg (9,000 lb.) and 5,380 kg (11,860 lb.). An average-size female killer whale is 4.9 to 5.8 m (16-19 ft.). SeaWorld’s adult females whales between the ages of 16 and 41 years old range in weight from 2,313 kg (5,100 lb.) to 3,719 kg (8,200 lb.).


5. Why is Shamu black and white?
The coloration of killer whales may enhance their ability to hunt. Killer whales are counter-shaded; they are dark on their dorsal surface and white on their ventral surface. The dark side blends in with the murky ocean depths when viewed from above. The light ventral side blends in with the lighter surface of the sea when seen from below. The result is that prey have a difficult time seeing a contrast between the counter-shaded killer whale and the environment.
In addition, killer whales have disruptive coloration, a camouflage in which the color pattern of an animal contradicts the animal's body shape. In the flickering, filtered sunlight of the sea, other animals may not recognize a killer whale as a potential threat.


6. Why does a killer whale have a hole on top of its head?
Killer whales and other whales have a blowhole on top of the head. This is basically like having your nose on top of your head. This helps the whale because they can’t breathe underwater, but when they come up for a breath of air, the top of their head comes out of the water first so they can take a breath right away.


7. How many killer whales are there worldwide?
Killer whales are found in oceans throughout world. The worldwide population of killer whales is unknown. NOAA Fisheries Service has stock assessments available for some populations of killer whales at http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/prot_res/PR2/Stock_Assessment_Program/individual_sars.html.


8. Why do some killer whales' dorsal fins flop over?
Scientists are not sure why the dorsal fins of some killer whales flop over and the dorsal fins of other do not.The dorsal fins of killer whales are supported only by connective tissue and not bone. In a study of killer whales in New Zealand waters, 23% of the wild males had dorsal fins that bent over. Newborn killer whales all have floppy dorsal fins that stiffen a few days after birth.

Scientists have a couple of theories as to why the dorsal fins of some killer whales flop over. One theory is that the surrounding water helps support the dorsal fin. A killer whale that spends more time at the surface, with its fin protruding out of the water, has a greater tendency for its fin to bend. Additionally, collagen becomes more flexible when warmed, such as if it is exposed to sunlight. Another theory supports a genetic tendency for a dorsal fin to bend. These two factors may work in combination or there may be other factors involved. The dorsal fin of an adult male killer whale can grow to six feet tall, which may be why their fins have a greater tendency to bend. Neither the shape nor the droop of a whale's dorsal fin are indicators of a killer whale's health or well-being.


9. Which one is Shamu?
Shamu is a stage name that we use for any of the adult (male or female) killer whales in our shows.

10. What is the origin of the name "Shamu"?
Many stories exist about the origin of Shamu's name. One revolves around the first collected killer whale that was named Namu after a British Columbian town. When SeaWorld welcomed its first killer whale, it was named Shamu, for "She-Namu".


11. Why are they called killer whales?
A healthy adult killer whale is an apex (top) predator in the ocean; it can prey on anything that lives in the sea, but has no predators of its own. Some killer whales are even known to prey on other species of whales. At one time, people called them "whale killers," which was eventually modified into killer whales.


12. Who would win in a fight - a killer whale or great white shark?
An encounter between a great white shark (Carcharodon carcharias) and killer whales (Orcinus orca) was recently documented off of Southeast Farallon Island near San Francisco, California. Two killer whales were in the area feeding on a California sea lion. Perhaps the smell of fresh sea lion blood drew the shark to the area, but when one of the killer whales sighted the great white, it immediately charged the shark. The killer whale pulled the 3-4 m (10-13 ft.) shark to the surface in its mouth and both killer whales consumed portions of the great white including its enormous liver. This is certainly no indication of what may happen every time killer whales face great whites, but it does demonstrate the variety in a killer whale’s diet.


13. How much does a killer whale eat?
Each adult killer whale at SeaWorld receives 140 to 240 pounds of food per day. We feed our killer whales a balanced, high-quality diet, including several different species of fish. Among the types most often fed are herring, capelin, salmon, mackerel, and occasionally others. Fish is always kept refrigerator and well-iced to help maintain the highest husbandry standards.
New batches of fish are tested via calorimeter to determine exact levels of calories, fat, ash, protein, and moisture. This information aids our veterinary staff and animal trainers in developing an appropriate diet for each animal. Other important information includes the animals' weights, which are obtained weekly via a voluntary "scale" behavior (the whales are trained to slide-up onto a weight scale and remain motionless while their exact weight is read), behavioral clues (how are the animal's eating habits and overall energy level?), demographics (age, reproductive status of the animal), and any special nutritional requirements that a particular animal may have.

Each animal is fed at random amounts at random intervals throughout the day. To provide a high level of mental and physical stimulation, it is important to vary feeding times and amounts for mental stimulation.

From http://www.seaworld.org/ask-shamu/faq.htm#sw-animals