The birth of the last ever baby orca at a SeaWorld park has been caught on camera.
Killer whale Takara gave birth to her calf at the park in San Antonio, Texas, on Wednesday afternoon.
Vets have not yet determined the gender of the calf, but said both mother and baby are in good shape and being monitored closely.
SeaWorld Entertainment Inc popularised killer whale shows in the 1960s but faced growing opposition in recent years.
Attendance at the theme parks has been falling amid negative publicity and criticism from animal rights activists upset by the treatment of captive marine mammals.
Takara was already pregnant when the company announced last year that it was suspending its captive breeding programme.
It also vowed to phase out killer whale shows at its three parks in Orlando, Florida, San Diego, California and San Antonio.
"This is the last one, and that makes this a particularly big deal," SeaWorld Chief Zoological Officer Chris Dold said.
"It is a bit bitter sweet. We love these killer whales."
The calf was born after an 18-month pregnancy and is estimated to weigh between 300 and 350 pounds and measure between 6 and 7 feet, SeaWorld said.
It was 25-year-old Takara's fifth birth.
SeaWorld's vice president of veterinary services, Dr. Hendrik Nollens, it will be the last chance for researchers to study orca development in ways that cannot be done in the wild.
Pressure on SeaWorld mounted after the release of the 2013 documentary "Blackfish," which depicted the captivity and public exhibition of killer whales as inherently cruel.
Animal rights group People for Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) said SeaWorld should move Takara and her calf from their tank to an "ocean sanctuary," an area of sea enclosed by nets.
"There are a lot of people willing to help. There are companies that have stepped forward and offered major donations," said PETA's corporate affairs specialist, Stephanie Shaw.
"These types of seaside sanctuaries are very doable."