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On average a female orca has from 3 to
5 offspring during a reproductive lifetime of about 25 years. She
might have her first baby around 14 years of age, although we know
of younger females who have become mothers as early as 10 years of
age. Gestation is about 17 months. Babies are often born between October
and March and nursed for a full year after birth. Very often the baby
is first seen when the orcas return for the summer season. One female,
Simoom (A34) has has all four of her babies in the Fall in the Johnstone
Strait area. Although none of the births was directly witnessed, each
of the calves was seen within a few days of birth. |
