Orcas Killer Whales
Orcas (Killer Whales)
Orcas, also known as killer whales, are some of the most fascinating creatures of the ocean world.
Orcas have developed a remarkable reputation for being intelligent marine predators - capable of anything from biological sonar to complex hunting strategies. These unique creatures are known to form tight-knit communities that span generations.
Let’s find out more about these amazing animal species…
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Orcas have the second biggest brains of all marine mammals.
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Orcas - Killer Whales
Orcas, commonly known as killer whales, are one of the largest predators in the ocean. Despite their name, these majestic mammals are not actually whales at all; they are actually the largest members of the dolphin family. So, why are they called killer whales? The answer to this lies in their hunting habits. Not only are orcas are incredibly skilled predators, but they also have incredibly sharp teeth that allow them to feed on just about any aquatic creature. Their diet consists mainly of fish, seals, and other marine mammals. They have been known to kill large whales, earning them the nickname killer whales. However, this name can sometimes be misleading, as orcas have been known to show incredible intelligence and they can even form lasting bonds with humans.
What truly sets orcas apart is their remarkable intelligence. They use echolocation – or biological sonar – to hunt for prey, navigate depths of the ocean, and socialise with other orcas in their pod. In addition, orca pods cooperate when hunting large prey such as seals or sea lions, using complex strategies like driving prey toward the shore or suffocating them underwater.
As apex predators, they help regulate populations of fish, seals, sea lions, and other marine mammals, preventing overgrazing and promoting species diversity. Additionally, their hunting behaviour creates ‘prey switching’, which means that they don't focus on one specific species, but rather switch between different prey depending on availability. This helps prevent over-predation of a particular species, giving other marine mammals a chance to thrive. The ecological importance of orcas cannot be overstated, making it essential for us to protect them and their habitats in order to sustain our oceans for generations to come.
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Orcas - Characteristics
With their stunning black-and-white markings and impressive size, it's hard not to be fascinated by these mammals. Their physical characteristics include a black and white coloration with a distinctively dorsal fin. They can be found in oceans all around the world. They are highly intelligent creatures and exhibit complex social behaviours within their pods, which can consist of up to 40 members and are led by a dominant female, typically the oldest female in the group. Groups of resident orcas – which primarily feed on fish – tend to have larger pods with multiple generations living together. Transient orcas – which mainly hunt marine mammals – usually travel in smaller groups and may associate with other transient pods from time to time.
Orcas measure 5.5 - 9.8 metres in length (females are usually smaller than males) and weighing up to 11 tons. The lifespans of orcas vary according to their sex and other factors, but male orcas typically live up to 50 years in the wild while females can live well into their 80s. The oldest known orca, also known as Granny and officially identified as J2, lived to an estimated age of 105 years! This matriarch of the southern resident orca community in the Pacific Northwest was a grandmother and great-grandmother to many other orcas in her pod. Females reproduce between the ages of 15 - 40 and go through menopause. Only three known animal species on the planet to go through menopause: killer whales, short-finned pilot whales, and humans (enough said!).
Bizarrely, orcas need to remember to breathe — even when they are sleeping!!! Essentially, they sleep while half of the brain rests and the other half stays alert to control breathing! I am glad, I’m not an orca, I need my sleep…
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Orcas are known for their communication skills, with a wide range of vocalisations that allow them to communicate with one another over long distances.
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Orcas - Social Structures
Orcas live in complex social structures, known as pods. These pods are led by a female orca, called the matriarch, who is responsible for leading and protecting her offspring. Female orcas give their utmost care and attention to male calves. Research suggests that female orcas invest more time and energy into caring for male calves than females, possibly because male calves have a higher chance of contributing to the pod's future as a dominant breeder. And, orcas have been observed to even share meals, particularly between mothers and offspring. Female orcas may even go as far as to reduce their own food consumption and give up their alliance with other females to focus on their male calves. This behaviour might seem strange, but it is an important part of orca social behaviour. It shows how dedicated these animals are to their family, and how much they are willing to sacrifice for the wellbeing of their kin.
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Orcas - Intelligence, Social Learning and Vocalisations
In the vast expanse of the ocean, orcas reign supreme as one of the most intelligent creatures in the world. These majestic mammals have been observed using tools to assist them in their daily lives, such as using bits of seaweed to catch fish. But that's not all - these animals have also been known to learn from each other through social learning, passing down knowledge from one generation to the next. And, just like humans, they communicate through body language - from tail slaps to breaching, these gestures convey emotions and intentions.
Orcas have the second biggest brains of all marine mammals (second only to sperm whales); and they are able to analyse their three dimensional world. Some researchers have compared the IQ of humans and orcas… and found that the IQ of orcas is pretty much equivalent to that of 15-16 year-old humans. The EQ (encephalisation quotient) for orcas is 2.57 — essentially EQ refers to the brain to body ratio. So when you consider their huge body size, their brains are two and a half times larger than expected! Humans have an EQ of 7; dolphins have an EQ of 4. Orca brains can process rather complex cognitive functions such as self-awareness, social cognition, culture, and language. An orca’s neocortex which is the sort of wrinkly and folded part of the cerebrum surpasses the human brain’s surface area. Brains with more wrinkles and folds makes a brain’s processing power more complex and faster, and it can hold more data. This is called gyrification. The human Gyrencephaly Index is 2.2, a dolphin’s is 5.6 and an orca’s is 5.7 (the most gyrified brain in the world). It’s fascinating to think that orcas may be emotionally intelligent just as we are as humans. Orcas may even be aware of feelings of others, display feelings of self-consciousness and have a sense of self.
Their vocalisations are equally impressive. These majestic creatures have an incredible ability to coordinate their feeding and travel patterns using sound, producing high frequency pings to locate prey and navigate their way through the deep blue. Researchers have been amazed by the language skills of these marine mammals, as they have witnessed orcas using unique calls that are specific to their pod, acting as a distinctive identifier of their group. Each pod has their very own ‘language’. These vocalisations are essential for communication between pod members, navigation, foraging, and even socialising. Orca's vocalisations include whistles, clicks, and pulsed calls. Whistles are often used for communication between members of the same pod, while clicks are used for echolocation when foraging for prey. Pulsed calls, on the other hand, are used for navigation and socialising. These distinctive vocalisations are an important part of the orca's anatomy and play a crucial role in their daily lives. Unlike shark, orcas do not have an olfactory system, which means, they do not appear to have a sense of smell.
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Orcas And Humans
Despite their reputation as apex predators, orcas are not typically a threat to humans. Orcas have been known to exhibit playful and curious behaviour towards humans, even in the wild. Some indigenous cultures consider orcas to be guardians of the ocean and have a deep spiritual connection to them. However, it is important to remember that orcas are still wild animals and as with any creature in its natural habitat, respect and understanding are key to maintaining a safe relationship with these magnificent beings. In the wild, there have been some killer whale attacks on humans. There have been some deaths and a number of incidents by orcas held in captivity. Four fatalities of attacks on humans have been recorded, Tilikum of Blackfish, was deemed responsible for three of those deaths.
Starting in the 1960s, orcas have been caught for entertainment display. I write this with a very heavy heart, on August 8, 1970, a total of seven orcas were taken from L pod (one of the resident orca pods), sadly, 5 died in the process. Orcas such as Tilikum and Keiko were still captured in the 1970s and 1980s at the Icelandic coast. And sadly, orcas are still being wild-caught! As of Jan 2023, 55 orcas are being held captive, 29 were born in captivity. Kalina (1985-2010) was the first captive-born orca. She appeared in shows at SeaWorld Orlando in 1986 with her mother. Orcas held in captivity often display aggressive behaviour towards each other.
Kiska has been called the loneliest whale in the world. She was held captive in a concrete tank at Marineland Canada. She was captured in 1979 at the age of around 3 years young. Kiska gave birth to five calves. Sadly, all of them died young. Considering that orcas have the ability to feel emotional pain and grief, it breaks my heart to even just think about the trauma that she must have endured. Kiska has died of a bacterial infection in March 2023. In June 2019, the Canadian Parliament voted overwhelmingly to pass Bill S-203, the Ending the Captivity of Whales and Dolphins Act (it bans keeping whales, dolphins and porpoises in captivity for entertainment).
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Orcas Attacking Boats in Portugal and Spain
You may have heard about orcas attacking sail boats and small vessels sailing in the Strait of Gibraltar in Iberian waters around Portugal and Spain since May 2020 which is an increasing phenomenon. The Portuguese and Spanish coastlines are now seeing an increase in these types of ‘encounters’, with some sail boats actually being capsized by orcas. There have been more than 500 encounters with orcas recorded since 2020, and three sunken ships. Scientists have yet to fully understand why this increase in aggressive behaviour is happening among orcas, but some believe that it may be due to a decrease in their prey as a result of overfishing or climate change. Another theory is that the sail boat attacks started with a female orca named White Gladis, who is believed to be the matriarch of the group. Some experts believe that White Gladis was hit and injured by a vessel. There is a theory that White Gladis was pregnant at the time when the behaviour of attacking boats started. This event may have traumatised White Gladis and is believed to have triggered the behaviour of targeting boats by ramming and attacking the vessel's rudder. This behaviour appears to be spreading among the orca population through social learning.
The Spanish authorities have launched Orcinus, an orca tracking and reporting app to view orca encounters (Orcinus is available for iOS and Android). More information and advice can be found on the Cruising Association site and the orca interaction map.
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Learn more about orcas:
>> The Insane Biology of The Orca — Video
>> Seacreatures podcast — Orcas with Hanne Strager — Podcast
>> The Killer Whale Journals Our Love and Fear of Orcas — Book
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Orcas - Endangered With Extinction
It's a harsh reality that the majestic and powerful orcas are teetering on the edge of extinction. The latest estimates show that there are only around 50,000 of these magnificent creatures left in the wild - a minuscule number when you consider the vast oceans they call home. With pollution, dwindling food sources, and human interference all contributing to their decline, it is essential that we do our part to protect and preserve these amazing animals. After all, they are an integral part of our planet's marine ecosystem and a symbol of strength and beauty.
By reducing our use of plastic, we can help to reduce the amount of plastic waste that ends up in our oceans and harms marine life. Every small step we take towards reducing plastic pollution and tackling climate change can make a real difference in protecting these fascinating creatures and the world they call home.
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Orcas have also been observed to display complex social behaviours such as bonding between family members, empathy and even mourning.
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