All About

Orcas

Orcas, also known as killer whales, are the largest members of the dolphin family and are found in all the world’s oceans. They are apex predators with complex social structures, advanced hunting techniques, and strong family bonds—often living in matriarchal pods. Highly intelligent and vocal, orcas use distinct calls to communicate and coordinate group activities. While revered in the wild, their captivity has become a global controversy due to ethical concerns and the psychological toll on these sentient marine mammals. Let's learn more...

What's An Orca?

Orcas (Orcinus orca) are the largest members of the dolphin family, Delphinidae. They’re not whales in a strict biological sense, despite the common name “killer whale.” The name comes from early whalers who called them “whale killers” because they were seen attacking and preying on other whales. Over time, the phrase flipped to “killer whales.”

They’re apex predators, meaning nothing preys on them—except humans, in some contexts. Orcas are incredibly intelligent, highly social, and remarkably diverse in their behavior and diet.

What's A Pod?

Family-Based Units: Orca pods are typically matriarchal, led by the oldest female, and made up of her descendants. Offspring often stay with their mothers for life.

Types of Pods: There are three main ecotypes of orca social groups—resident, transient (Bigg’s), and offshore—each with unique behaviors, diets, and vocal patterns.

Pod Size: Pods usually range from 5 to 30 individuals, but some superpods can temporarily form with 50+ orcas during social or feeding events.

Unique Dialects: Each pod has its own distinct vocal dialect, which orcas use to recognize and communicate with their family group.

How Big Are They?

Size: Adult males average 20–26 feet in length and weigh around 8,000–12,000 pounds. Females are slightly smaller, about 16–23 feet, weighing 3,000–8,000 pounds.
Color: Iconic black and white coloring with striking eye patches and a white underbelly. This contrast acts as a form of camouflage called countershading.
Dorsal Fin: Males have towering dorsal fins, sometimes up to 6 feet tall, while females’ fins are more curved and smaller.

Orca Ecotypes

Resident Orcas (Pacific Northwest):
- Diet: Fish, especially salmon.
- Social: Live in stable matrilineal groups.
- Known for tight family bonds.

Transient or Bigg’s Orcas:
- Behavior: Quieter to avoid alerting prey.
- Smaller, less stable pods.
- Diet: Marine mammals like seals, sea lions, and even whales.

Offshore Orcas:
- Diet: Mostly schooling fish and sharks.
- Live in large groups, often 20–75.
- Less studied due to elusive nature.

Antarctic Types:
- Types A, B, C, and D: Differ by size, markings, and diet.
- Some feed on minke whales; others prefer fish like toothfish.

These ecotypes can be so genetically distinct that some scientists argue they may be different species or subspecies.

Diet and Hunting

Orcas are incredibly strategic hunters, using sophisticated techniques, many of which are passed down culturally.

Some Hunting Techniques:

Wave Washing: Working together to create waves that wash seals off ice floes.
Strand Feeding: Temporarily beaching themselves to grab seals on shore (common in Patagonia).
Carousel Feeding: Circling and herding fish into tight balls, then stunning them with tail slaps.
Team Hunting: Taking down larger whales (like gray or even blue whale calves) in coordinated assaults.

They don’t just hunt—they learn to hunt. Mothers teach calves specific methods suited to their region and prey.

Social Structure and Intelligence

Orcas live in complex social groups, often centered on matriarchs—older females who lead and pass down knowledge. Pods are made up of family members who stay together for life. Males rarely leave their maternal pod, even after maturity.

Their intelligence is immense:

They have dialects—distinctive calls or sounds unique to specific pods.
Some display empathy, grief, play, and problem-solving.
They use echolocation to navigate and hunt, sending out sound waves and interpreting the echoes.

Orcas are possibly among the most intelligent animals on Earth, rivaling primates and elephants.

Orcas and Humans: A Complicated History

In Indigenous Cultures:

Indigenous peoples of the Pacific Northwest view orcas with reverence, often seeing them as protectors, ancestors, or spiritual beings.
They feature heavily in legends and are represented in totem poles and tribal stories.

In Captivity:

In the 1960s and 70s, orcas were captured for marine parks. The Southern Resident population, in particular, was devastated by this practice.
Lolita (Tokitae) and Tilikum became symbols of this era. Tilikum, the subject of the documentary Blackfish, was involved in several tragic incidents in captivity and lived a life of confinement after being taken from the wild as a calf.
Public opinion shifted dramatically over the decades. Now, there’s widespread opposition to orca captivity. Some orcas remain in captivity, but many countries have banned it.

Current Conservation Status

Orcas aren’t endangered globally, but many specific populations are at risk. For example:

Southern Resident Orcas (Pacific Northwest) are critically endangered, with fewer than 75 individuals left.
- Main threats: Pollution, boat traffic, and the collapse of Chinook salmon populations.

Threats to orcas overall include:

Pollution: PCBs and heavy metals accumulate in orca blubber and harm their health.
Noise Pollution: Ship engines interfere with echolocation.
Overfishing: Depletes their food sources.
Climate Change: Alters ecosystems and prey distribution.

Cultural Behavior

Orcas are one of the few non-human animals with observable culture:

Different pods have unique calls, diets, and behaviors passed down through generations.
They mourn their dead; a famous case involved a mother named Tahlequah who carried her dead calf for 17 days over more than 1,000 miles—an act many saw as evidence of grief.
They play. Orcas have been seen surfing waves, tossing fish for fun, and even mimicking human speech in captivity.

Lifespan and Reproduction

Lifespan: Females can live 70–90 years, sometimes more. Males live around 30–60 years.
Reproduction: Females give birth roughly every 3–10 years after a 15–18 month pregnancy. Calves are born tail-first and weigh around 300–400 pounds at birth.

Famous Orcas

Keiko: The orca star of Free Willy. He was eventually released into the wild but struggled to reintegrate and died in 2003.
Tilikum: Captured in 1983, sired many calves in captivity, and became a central figure in the debate over orca captivity.
Granny (J2): Believed to be over 100 years old, she was the matriarch of the Southern Residents and a powerful symbol of orca resilience before her death