The night WATCHER

Sleepless nights might be part and parcel of parenting, but female orcas

(Orcinus orca) take this to the extreme. After a gestation period lasting up to a year and a half, the new mother stays awake for a whole month to keep a close eye on her calf. Commonly known as killer whales, orcas are, in fact, the ocean’s largest dolphin species and are known to form familial bonds that last a lifetime. Although rarely seen in British waters, a pod of eight – four males and four females – are spotted each summer off the coast of Shetland. .