To nurse, a calf swims on its side and suckles from nipples concealed in abdominal mammary slits. A killer whale calf's upper teeth erupt at two to four months. The lower teeth erupt at three or four months. Calves begin to take in a few fish at three to four months. They eat solid food consistently at four to five months.
Calves can vocalize within days of birth, but sound production is shaped with age.
Enemies and Endangerment A whale does not have very many enemies. One of a whale's most dangerous enemies is the human species. Other threats to whales are toxins, oil spills, diseases, and garbage in the oceans. Oil spills are very dangerous because not only do they kill whales, but they will kill any thing in the oceans. Garbage kills marine life around the world every year.