Science Deciphers Five Astounding Orca Behaviors, Unraveling Ramming Boats and Great White Shark Hunt

Victoria Sayo Turner, a Mass Media Fellow at AAAS, explores the fascinating world of orcas, also known as “killer whales.” While recent incidents involving orcas attacking sailing yachts have made headlines, our relationship with these predators goes back centuries. Orcas are not actually whales, but the largest members of the dolphin family. They have both terrified and captivated humans throughout history.

In Pliny the Elder’s first-century encyclopedia, the orca was described as a massive creature armed with teeth, offering no mercy. However, humans have also worked alongside these powerful animals. Australian whalers in the 1800s cooperated with orcas to capture and kill baleen whales, a tradition that may have originated thousands of years ago with Indigenous Australian hunters. In the 1960s and 1970s, aquariums and marine parks like SeaWorld collected wild-caught orcas. However, public opinion turned against these practices when it was revealed that the capture methods used were harmful to the orcas. This eventually led to the Marine Mammal Protection Act, which put an end to the capture of orcas for public display in U.S. waters. Captive breeding programs were initiated, but they also faced criticism after the release of the documentary Blackfish, which highlighted the poor health of captive orcas. As a result, SeaWorld decided to end its breeding program in 2016. The United States now bans captive orca tricks that involve swimming with humans.

While captive orcas may perform impressive tricks, they pale in comparison to the incredible feats displayed by orcas in the wild. Four experts shed light on five remarkable behaviors exhibited by these intelligent creatures. Orcas are known for picking up behaviors from their fellow pod members, leading to interesting trends. For example, in 1987, orcas in Puget Sound started carrying around dead salmon on their heads, a trend that spread to other pods. While the reason behind this behavior remains unknown, behavioral ecologist Josh McInnes observed similar playfulness with jellyfish. In recent times, a new trend has emerged where orcas have been damaging sailing vessels in the Strait of Gibraltar and off the coasts of Spain and Portugal. Reports suggest that the behavior may be spreading, possibly reaching as far as Scotland. The exact cause of this trend is still unclear, but researchers speculate that increased ship presence, competition for food, or a response to a boat collision might be contributing factors.

Another astonishing behavior exhibited by orcas is their ability to hunt and consume great white sharks. While some orcas specialize in hunting other prey, others have been observed hunting and feasting on great white sharks. The orcas use their intelligence and social structure to their advantage, hunting in packs and employing various techniques to take down these fearsome creatures. By working together, orcas are able to corner and immobilize sharks or force them into a vulnerable position, ultimately clearing an area of sharks just by their presence.

Orcas also display incredible hunting tactics in their interactions with seals and sea lions. Some orcas in British Columbia and Patagonia have developed the skill of intentionally stranding themselves on beaches to secure their prey. This method involves swimming straight onto the shores, snatching the seals or sea lions, and returning to the water. Juvenile orcas learn this technique from their mothers, who actively push them out of the water until they become proficient at beaching themselves.

In addition to their hunting prowess, orcas engage in social behaviors that highlight their complex social structures. One such behavior is the “greeting ceremony” observed in the salmon-eating orca population off the West Coast of the U.S. and Canada. When two pods come into contact after a period of separation, members of each pod align themselves across a stretch of water, resembling a big extended family reunion. They float in formation, silently facing each other for a few minutes before the atmosphere transitions into a lively celebration. Orcas break rank, swim around each other, vocalize, and perform acrobatic displays.

Lastly, orcas are known for their distinct vocalizations, which vary among pods. Researchers have discovered that each pod has its own sonic signature or dialect, similar to human accents. This sonic diversity becomes more pronounced when pods from different regions interact.

Overall, orcas continue to captivate our imagination with their intelligence, complex social structures, and remarkable behaviors.

 

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Denial of responsibility! TechCodex is an automatic aggregator of Global media. In each content, the hyperlink to the primary source is specified. All trademarks belong to their rightful owners, and all materials to their authors. For any complaint, please reach us at – [email protected]. We will take necessary action within 24 hours.