Reproduction
--- humpback whale breeding
occurs mostly in the winter to early spring while near the surface and in warm, tropical
waters
--- the gestation period is about 11-12 months and the calf is born tail first (this is normal
for cetaceans) and near the surface in warm, shallow waters
---the newborn instinctively swims to the surface within 10 seconds for its first
breath; it is helped by its mother, using her flippers
--- within 30 minutes of its birth the baby whale can swim
--- the newborn calf is about 14 feet long and weighs about 2.5 tons
--- twins are extremely rare (about 1% of births)
--- the baby is nurtured with its mother's
milk and is weaned in about 11 months
--- the mother and calf may stay together for year or longer
--- calves drink 100 pounds of milk each day