Page 77 - World of Animals - Book of Sharks & Ocean Predators

Killer whales
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Smart moves

Orcas display complex behaviour that
shows just how intelligent they are
Emotion
Male killer whales will remain with their
mothers all their lives, which can be up to
50 years! Families of orcas are so close
that capturing one is akin to kidnapping a
human. Researchers have noted that they
exhibit what seems like grieving when a
member of the pod dies, causing others to
become withdrawn.
Speech
One of the most amazing discoveries is
that different pods have their own unique
dialects. They make these sounds more
frequently when a calf has been born
so that the youngster can learn, just like
human parents teach their children to
speak. It’s thought that these advanced
dialects create a group identity and also
prevents inbreeding.
Social structure
These incredibly social animals travel
in pods that can consist of up to four
generations. A social hierarchy exists
within groups of killer whales, with the
females being more dominant. Signs of
establishing authority within a pod include
“A family that forages together, slapping their tails against the water, as
well as snapping their jaws.
feeds together, but seals only Problem solving
make modest meals” The average orca will eat over 550 pounds
(250 kilograms) of food a day, working
as a team to successfully catch their prey.

This could be flanking a minke whale on
either side and regularly swapping places,
like a relay race, or charging an ice block in
unison to cause a wave to wash their prey
into the water.
Playfulness
Orcas have a great sense of humour and
there’s plenty of video footage to back
this up. You can watch them playing with
balls of ice and even mimicking the sound
of a motor boat – a surprisingly accurate
impression. Other anecdotes include orcas
moving objects that humans are trying
to reach and they’ve even been known to
play with their food, letting it slip away but
always catching the prey in the end.

ABOVE Pods
are led by female
matriarchs, who
pass on hunting
skills to their
off spring and
family members

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