A pod of orcas swam close to shore and amazed onlookers in Seattle by treating the whale watchers to the rare sight of the apex predators hunting a bird. The pod of Bigg’s killer whales visited Elliott Bay and were seemingly on a hunt underwater just off Seattle’s maritime industrial docks. The pod exited the […]
Tag: orcas
“This does not look like normal hunting behaviour”: remarkable footage shows orcas hunting in a way never filmed before
The pod of orcas was filmed playing with their food – but not for the reason you might think. A new wildlife show has filmed something never seen before among orcas: a mother teaching her calves to hunt. “This does not look like normal hunting behaviour,” the narrator says in the video as the mother […]
Five years, multiple deaths: what is happening at the home of the last captive whales in Canada?
On the southern shores of the Niagara River, a few hundred feet from the thundering falls, sits Marineland of Canada – an amusement park, zoo, aquarium and forest occupying nearly 1,000 acres of land (400 hectares). Over the years, millions of people have clamoured to view the park’s 4,000 animals, including its prized walruses, orcas, […]
Saving ‘old and wise’ animals vital for species’ survival, say scientists
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 […]
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 […]