About the Baby Sperm Whale

The sperm whale is perhaps the most commonly recognized whale, known for its exceptionally large size and distinctive shape. These whales thrive and mate in both tropical and subtropical waters, although the birth rate has declined in the past 40 years due to aggressive whale hunting. Female sperm whales give live birth every four to six years, and a newborn baby sperm whale is known as a calf.

  1. Birth

    • The gestation period for a sperm whale calf is approximately 14 to 16 months. The mother delivers her calf near the surface of the water, with the calf emerging tail first. Roughly 10 seconds after giving birth, the mother helps her calf swim up to the surface of the water for its first breath. Within 30 minutes, the calf is able to swim independently.

    Size

    • At approximately 13 feet long, the sperm whale calf is among the largest of all newborn mammals. The calf typically weighs about 1 ton. Both sexes are born the same length and weight; however, female sperm whales will continue to grow for approximately 35 years, while the males of the species grow at a much slower rate, often reaching physical maturity at around 50 years.

    Feeding

    • A sperm whale calf will nurse its mother's milk for around 2 to 4 years, gaining weight and length rapidly. A calf will consume about 20 to 30 kgs of milk per day. After the lactation period, the sperm whale will begin to feed on a variety of ocean life, such as giant squid and demersal rays.

    Family Units

    • Female sperm whales are highly social, and multiple mothers and calves will form family units, known as "pods," of 12 to 20 whales at a time. Within these pods, the female whales will take turns hunting for food in the deep ocean waters, while the remaining females will stay near the surface to look after one another's young. The calves cannot dive as deeply as the adult whales and must always remain near the surface of the water. Female sperm whales within the same pod have even been known to assist one another in giving birth. Male sperm whales are much more solitary, and young males will leave the pod to form bachelor "schools" between 4 and 21 years of age.