Nutrition and Medical Care
On average, an adult orca in the wild may eat about three to four percent of their body weight daily, or as much as 227 kg (500 lb) of food for a six-tonne male. Their diet in the wild depends on what is available, and may include fish, walruses, seals, sea lions, penguins, squid, sea turtles, sharks and whales. According to SeaWorld, each of their adult orcas receives 140 to 240 pounds of food per day, primarily herring, capelin, salmon and mackerel. To maintain their alertness, the orcas are fed at sporadic intervals throughout the day (as would happen in the wild) and feeding is often combined with training and shows. Each batch of fish is carefully tested to determine its nutritive composition, and each orca's weight, activity and health is carefully monitored to determine any special dietary requirements.
Orcas have been the subject of extensive medical research since their first capture, and much is known about prevention and treatment of the common viral and bacterial infections, including vaccination and use of antibiotics and other medicines. Allometric principles and therapeutic drug monitoring are used to accurately determine the doses and avoid toxicity.
Read more about this topic: Captive Killer Whales, Captivity Conditions
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