Female orcas become sexual mature at around 15 years of age (when reached
more than 5m length). The gestation period varies from fifteen to eighteen
months.
Mothers give birth to a single offspring about once every 5 years.
In analysed resident pods of the northern hemisphere, births may occur at
any time of year, with the most popular months being those in winter.
New-born mortality is very high, surveys suggested that 43% of all calves
fail to reach the age of six months. Calves nurse for around one year.
Females breed until the age of 40, meaning that on average they raise 5
offspring during their life. Typically females live to the age of 50, but
may survive well into their 80s or 90s in exceptional cases.
Males become sexually mature at the age of 15, but do not typically
reproduce until age 21 (when they reach 6m in length). Males live to the
age of
30 on average, and to their 50s or 60s in exceptional cases.
In captivity the life expectancy decreases drastically, with 75% reaching
only 10 years of age!
Back