On January 11, 1998, a female killer whale was born at Kamogawa Sea World, Chiba, Japan. The vocal development of the killer whale named "Lovey" has been observed during 500 days. The baby started to produce sounds just after a few days of the birth. The acoustic characteristics of the baby vocalization is getting closer to the adults' as previously reported by Bowles et al. (1988). "Lovey" seems to develop her vocalizations satisfactorily. The scientific report of this observation will be prepared.
*Bowles, A. E., Young, W. G. and Asper, E. D. (1988), Ontogeny of stereotyped calling of a killer whale calf, Orcinus orca, during her first year. Rit Fiskideildar, 11: 251-275.
"Lovey"
and her mother, February 12, 1998 (one month old)
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Vocalization of the baby killer whale
Vocalization of adults
Other three adult killer whale were from Iceland water. They are sharing same type of vocalizations.