Jed Ryan J. Eldian

KILLER WHALE

Jed Ryan J. Eldian

What are Killer Whales?

The killer whale (Orcinus orca), also referred to as the orca whale or orca, and less commonly as the blackfish or grampus, is a toothed whale belonging to the oceanic dolphin family, of which it is the largest member. Killer whales are found in all oceans, from Arctic and Antarctic regions to tropical seas. Killer whales have a diverse diet, although individual populations often specialize in particular types of prey. Some feed exclusively on fish, while others hunt marine mammals like pinnipeds, and even large whales. They have been known to attack baleen whale calves. Killer whales are regarded as apex predators, lacking natural predators.

Jed Ryan J. Eldian

Killer whales are highly social; some populations are composed of matrilineal family groups which are the most stable of any animal species.

Their sophisticated hunting techniques and vocal behaviours, which are often specific to a particular group and passed across generations, have been anthropomorphically described as manifestations of culture. The IUCN currently assesses the orca's conservation status as data deficient because of the likelihood that two or more killer whale types are separate species. Some local populations are considered threatened or endangered due to prey depletion, habitat loss, pollution (byPCBs), capture for marine mammal parks, and conflicts with fisheries. In late 2005, the "southern resident" population of killer whales that inhabits British Columbia and Washington state waters were placed on the U.S. Endangered Species list.

Jed Ryan J. Eldian

Species DescriptionWeight: males can weigh up to 22,000 pounds

(10,000 kg);females can weigh up to 16,500 pounds (7,500 kg)

Length: males can reach 32 feet (10 m);females can reach 28 feet (8.5 m)

Appearance: black on top with white undersides and white patches near their eyes; highly variable gray or white saddle behind the dorsal fin; these markings are unique across individuals and populations

Lifespan: up to 50-100 years:males typically live for about 30 years, but can live as long as 50-60 years;females typically live about 50 years, but can live as long as 100 years

Diet: varies (diet is often geographic or population specific), can include fish, marine mammals, sharks, and sea birds

Behavior: highly social animals, living within matriarchal societies; rely on underwater sound for orientation, feeding, and communication; produce whistles and pulsed calls, used for communication and maintaining group cohesion

Jed Ryan J. Eldian

Killer Whale Life Cycle

Adult

Calf

JuvenileYoung

Young Adult

Range and HabitatKiller whales are found in all oceans and most seas. Due to their 

enormous range, numbers, and density, distributional estimates are difficult to compare,[92] but they clearly prefer higher latitudes and coastal areas over pelagic environments.[93]

Systematic surveys indicate the highest densities of killer whales (>0.40 individuals per 100 km²) in the northeast Atlantic around theNorwegian coast, in the north Pacific along the Aleutian Islands, the Gulf of Alaska and in the Southern Ocean off much of the coast ofAntarctica.[92] They are considered "common" (0.20–0.40 individuals per 100 km²) in the eastern Pacific along the coasts of British Columbia, Washington and Oregon, in the North Atlantic Ocean around Iceland and the Faroe Islands. High densities have also been reported but not quantified in the western North Pacific around the Sea of Japan (in very limited areas), Shiretoko Peninsula and offKushiro (Resident and Transient groups began colonizing in these areas possibly after in 2000s), Sea of Okhotsk, Kuril Islands,

Jed Ryan J. Eldian

Jed Ryan J. Eldian

Kamchatka and the Commander Islands and in the Southern Hemisphere off the coasts of South Australia, off the coast of southern Braziland the tip of southern Africa. They are reported as seasonally common in the Canadian Arctic, including Baffin Bay between Greenlandand Nunavut, and around Tasmania and Macquarie Island.[92]

 Information for offshore regions and tropical waters is more scarce, but widespread, if not frequent, sightings indicate the killer whale can survive in most water temperatures. They have been sighted, for example, in the Mediterranean, the Arabian Sea, the Gulf of Mexico and the Indian Ocean around the Seychelles.[92]

 In the Mediterranean, killer whales are considered "visitors" with the exception of one small population which lives in the Strait of Gibraltar.[94] A distinct population may also exist in Papua New Guinea

Jed Ryan J. Eldian

PopulationWorldwide population estimates

are uncertain, but recent consensus suggests an absolute minimum of 50,000. Local estimates include roughly 25,000 in the Antarctic, 8,500 in the tropical Pacific, 2,250–2,700 off the cooler northeast Pacific and 500–1,500 off Norway. Japan's Fisheries Agency estimated 2,321 killer whales were in the seas around Japan.

Jed Ryan J. Eldian

Captivity

Jed Ryan J. Eldian

The killer whale's intelligence, trainability, striking appearance, playfulness in captivity and sheer size have made it a popular exhibit at aquaria and aquatic theme parks. From 1976 to 1997, 55 whales were taken from the wild in Iceland, 19 from Japan, and three from Argentina. These figures exclude animals that died during capture. Live captures fell dramatically in the 1990s, and by 1999, about 40% of the 48 animals on display in the world were captive-born.