Congratulations! It's a whale!
The last baby orca to be born at Sea World Parks, which popularized 'Killer Whale' shows in the 1960s, has been born at Sea World San Antonio, News Radio 1200 WOAI reports.
Both the whale, whose gender has not been determined, and the mother, 25 year old Takara, are doing fine, and Sea World says it is looking forward to giving the public its last chance to watch the development of an orca outside its natural habitat.
But People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals says the baby should be in its natural habitat, and spokeswoman Stephanie Shaw told News Radio 1200 WOAI that keeping orcas in tanks is what has caused so much grief for Sea World.
"Revenues started to decline when people learned the devastating consequences of keeping such an emotionally complicated animal in a concrete tank," she said.
PETA says the orca should be released into a 'seaside sanctuary' to 'spare the calf a lifetime of suffering.'
"PETA is calling on Sea World to spare here fifth calf a lifetime of suffering in prison by retiring both mother and child to a sanctuary where they may someday be reunited with Takara's mother, other children, and grandchildren," the group said in a statement.
Shaw says there are plenty of opportunities to get the baby, which has not yet been named, out of 'captivity.'
"There are a lot of people willing to make it happen, there are companies which have stepped forward and offered multi million dollar donations. These seaside sanctuaries are very doable."
Takara was already pregnant when Sea World Parks, Inc. announced last year that it was ending its captive orca breeding program.