SeaWorld Orlando Celebrates a Special Thanksgiving with Birth of New "Baby Shamu"

Add another seat to the Thanksgiving table, as SeaWorld welcomes its newest family member - a 7-foot-long, 350-pound baby killer whale. The baby was born on Thanksgiving eve, November 23rd.

The calf' mother, Takara, gave birth to the newborn at 10:22 p.m. in SeaWorld Orlando's multimillion-gallon research and breeding facility, Shamu Stadium. Moments later, the baby whale instinctively swam to the surface of the water for its first breath of air.

This is the second calf born to Takara, a 17-foot-long, 5,700-pound killer whale. SeaWorld animal care specialists remain cautiously optimistic about the progress of the baby and its mother. The sex of the calf is yet to be determined.

SeaWorld visitors can catch a glimpse of the park's new pride and joy starting tomorrow during special family presentations at Shamu Stadium.

SeaWorld's killer whale breeding program is the most successful in the world. This calf is the 23rd killer whale to be born and successfully raised at SeaWorld parks in Orlando, Fla., San Diego, Calif. and San Antonio, Texas. Thirteen of those whales, including this calf, have been born at SeaWorld Orlando.