A SeaWorld presentation begins with music and applause, introducing the killer whales, including 10-year-old McAdams and 44-year-old Katina, the matriarch. The presenter explains the whales' behaviors, social bonds, and problem-solving abilities. The presentation showcases the whales' interactions, including a voluntary blood sample procedure, weighing, and playtime. The presenter discusses the importance of mental stimulation, play, and care for the whales. The show also features observational learning, mimicry, and hunting techniques. The presenter emphasizes the impact of human actions on the ocean and its inhabitants, encouraging the audience to make a difference. The presentation concludes with a call to action, inspiring the audience to protect the ocean and its creatures.
Here are the key facts extracted from the text:
1. SeaWorld's killer whales have their own individual names.
2. Katina is the matriarch or leader of SeaWorld's killer whale pod.
3. Katina is 44 years old.
4. McAdams is 10 years old.
5. Killer whales have sensitive skin and can feel when they are given back rubs, belly rubs, or tail rubs.
6. SeaWorld's killer whales are trained to perform husbandry behaviors, such as voluntarily giving blood samples.
7. Killer whales can weigh over 4,000 pounds.
8. A female killer whale's pregnancy lasts for 17 months.
9. Killer whales are apex predators and have no natural predators.
10. They hunt cooperatively, using techniques such as cornering and stunning their prey with their tail flukes.
11. In the wild, killer whales can eat up to 100 pounds of food in a day.
12. Their diets vary depending on the time of year and their location.
13. Killer whales are dependent on their environment and are vulnerable to threats such as overfishing, pollution, and climate change.