Morgan gives birth to an orca calf, in a natural birth that went smoothly and with the necessary personnel present to ensure the well-being of both mother and calf.
Loro Parque celebrates with enthusiasm the birth of a new orca calf, son of Morgan, one of the orcas that lives in its facilities, which reinforces the institution’s commitment to the welfare and conservation of these marine mammals.
The birth took place in the early hours of Monday morning at 5:00 a.m. with the necessary personnel present to ensure the wellbeing of the mother and calf. After the birth, both are in good health, and the mother has shown a strong maternal instinct, caring for her calf with dedication. They are now in a special facility, separate from the other orcas, designed to maximise the safety of mother and calf.
The Loro Parque team is fully aware of the challenges that can arise after the birth of any animal. For this reason, constant vigilance will be kept on the evolution of the calf, especially during the first months of life. Killer whale calves are born with an immature immune system and depend on the antibodies transmitted through their mother’s milk, which means that the mortality rate of cetaceans in the wild is around 50%.
In this sense, the new calf will remain with its mother in a specialised area, where it will receive constant care until it is ready to be integrated with the rest of the family of orcas that reside in Loro Parque.
“The whole team at Loro Parque is delighted with this news. We have been providing the necessary support for months to ensure a safe birth. All births at Loro Parque are special, but the birth of an orca is particularly significant. Our team of caretakers, veterinarians, and scientists will continue to work with dedication to ensure that the new calf has a safe home and thrives alongside the other orcas,” said Wolfgang Kiessling, President of the Loro Parque Group. “This birth is a testament to the dedication and expertise of our team”.
Morgan, the mother of the calf, is a symbol of Loro Parque’s conservation work. Rescued in 2010 after being stranded on the coast of the Netherlands in a critical condition, she was transferred to Loro Parque after a thorough assessment by experts, who determined that this was the best place to ensure her long-term welfare.
Since her arrival in 2011, and thanks to the intensive care of the Loro Parque team, Morgan has made a full recovery and integrated into the park’s orca community. She was discovered to be deaf, which posed a unique challenge for her adaptation. In response, trainers developed an innovative communication system based on light signals, allowing her to interact effectively with her caregivers.
“Morgan’s arrival at our facility saved her life. He joined the group of orcas we had at the zoo and today we have a beautiful creature swimming with his mother. We have given life and happiness to an animal that in the wild would not have had a chance,” he added, “We guarantee all the animals in our facility the five freedoms”.
Loro Parque reaffirms its commitment to marine life conservation, research and education, providing first class care to the animals under its responsibility. This birth reinforces the role of accredited zoos in protecting endangered species and raising awareness of the importance of preserving the oceans.
