It’s not just humans who get wiser as they age – animals do too, according to a growing body of research. The bigmouth buffalo fish can reach 127 years old, the Greenland shark 392, and some sponges can live for 10,000 years or more. And age is not just a number: as animals get older […]
Tag: orcas
Orca gang develops brutal hunting strategy to take on the world’s largest shark — ‘This is a fascinating behaviour’
A gang of orcas off the coast of Mexico have learned how to hunt whale sharks — the world’s largest shark species — and their tactics are brutal. One male individual was present at the majority of these hunting events, researchers say, suggesting he may be driving this predatory behavior. “The animals have shown us […]
New Calf Sighting Brings Brief Hope for Endangered Orcas, But Challenges Remain
Hope surfaced for the endangered southern resident killer whales when a new calf named L128 was spotted swimming alongside their mother. This rare sighting briefly uplifted researchers who had seen only one other calf earlier in the year, which sadly died after a few months. However, by mid-October, L128 appeared to be struggling, as it […]
Orca baby born to Washington’s L pod
An orca has been born to the southern residents: L128, calf of a first-time, 31-year-old mom, L90. The baby is tiny, with clear fetal folds, making it probably about three days old. It was seen for the first time on Sunday, said Michael Weiss, research director for the Center for Whale Research, which confirmed the […]
Fishing in a fog: Ship noise hampers orcas’ hunting success
Underwater noise from ships is making it tough for killer whales, or orcas, to find and catch their favorite fish, a recent study has found. Orcas (Orcinus orca) rely heavily on sound to hunt. They emit ultrasonic echolocation clicks that bounce off objects. By listening for the echoes of these clicks, the orcas can identify […]
Orca Dies After Being Stranded Off Canadian Coast Despite Rescue Efforts
Tragedy struck off the coast of Canada’s Vancouver Island as efforts to rescue a stranded killer whale ended in sorrow. The stranded orca, identified as T109A3, sadly perished despite the valiant efforts of residents and marine officials. She left behind a calf. The incident unfolded when members of the Ehattisaht First Nation spotted the distressed […]
Researchers Use Drones and Infrared Cameras to Help Endangered Orcas in the Pacific
In an audacious twist on wildlife conservation, veterinarians are now making “house calls” to the majestic killer whales of the Pacific Northwest. Armed with drones and infrared cameras, a team of intrepid researchers is pioneering a novel approach to monitoring and potentially treating endangered orcas in the wild. Source: San Diego Zoo/YouTube The focus […]
California dazzled by ‘extremely rare’ killer whale sightings off southern coast
Experts and whale watchers have been dazzled by a series of orca sightings off the southern California coast that are being described as “extremely rare”. A group of 10 whales – including a calf just a few months old – has been spotted for the past two weeks off the coast of southern California, between […]