ORCAS - ENVIRONMENT
News: What’s behind orcas, also
called ‘killer whales’, sinking boats?
What's in the news?
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Two individuals were recently saved when a pod of
orcas, also called killer whales, sank their 15-meter-long sailing boat in the
Strait of Gibraltar, about 22.5 kilometers from the Moroccan coast.
Orcas (Killer Whales):
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Orcas are apex
predators, meaning they have no natural predators.
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They are known for their intelligence, complex social structures, and diverse diet, which
includes fish, seals, and even other whales.
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It is the largest
member of the Delphinidae family, or dolphins.
Population Distribution:
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Killer whales are found in all oceans.
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They are mostly found in cold places like Antarctica, Norway, and Alaska. However, they also
live in warmer tropical and subtropical waters.
Family:
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Family Members
of this family include all dolphin species, as well as other larger species,
such as long-finned pilot whales and short-finned pilot whales, whose common
names also contain “whale” instead of “dolphin”.
Behaviour:
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Killer whales are highly social, and most live in social groups called pods.
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Pods are groups of maternally related individuals
seen together more than half the time.
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Given their highly social and curious behaviour,
orcas often approach fishing vessels to assess if there is any fish in the net,
or just to observe people on the vessel.
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They rely on
underwater sound to feed, communicate, and navigate.
Body Size:
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They can measure up to 8 metres in length and weigh
up to 6 tonnes as adults
Conservation Status:
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IUCN Red List - Data Deficient
Records from India:
● Killer whales have been reported from the Andaman and Nicobar islands, southeast coast of India, off Andhra Pradesh, northern Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry and from the west coast of India, mainly Maharashtra to Kerala.