orka

Bigg’s, or transient, killer whales use stealth and teamwork to hunt their marine mammal prey. For a seal hightailing it from an attack, the best bet for survival is to get out of the water. But now, even dry land is not safe. >> read more …

Many human grandmothers love to spoil their grandchildren with attention and treats, and for good reason: Studies have shown that having a living grandmother increases a child’s chance of survival. Now, new research shows the same may be true for killer whales. By providing young animals with some freshly caught salmon now and then—or perhaps … Meer lezen

Orka’s zijn de grootste dolfijnachtigen in de oceaan. Ze kunnen bijna 10 meter lang worden en wegen soms wel 5000 kilo. Orka’s lijken misschien groot en sterk; toch is hun voortbestaan onzeker. Dat komt omdat ze met een verscheidenheid aan dodelijke bedreigingen worden geconfronteerd. En volgens een nieuwe studie is dat met name te wijten … Meer lezen

Humans are often implicated in orca deaths. Now a team that looked at how orcas in the Pacific Ocean died has linked some deaths with human activity. >> Read more …

Met vette koppen lazen we enkele maanden geleden dat orka’s voor de Spaanse en Portugese kust schepen aanvielen. De indruk werd gewekt dat het om gevaarlijke en agressieve dieren ging, maar niets blijkt minder waar: de nog jonge orka’s waren vermoedelijk alleen maar aan het spelen. >> lees verder …

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has approved a request from the U.S. Navy to continue military exercises in Puget Sound and coastal Washington waters that could potentially harm the endangered Southern Resident orca population. >> read more …

Pods of killer whales inhabit the waters of every major ocean on Earth. Each family is able to survive thanks mainly to one member, its most knowledgeable hunter: the grandmother. These matriarchs can live 80 years or more and their expertise can mean the difference between life and death for their families. Darren Croft details … Meer lezen

Researchers are baffled by the high number of run-ins between yachts and orcas but believe the animals are approaching out of curiosity, not animosity. >> read more …

If you watched David Attenborough’s Extinction: The Facts, you’ll have heard the tragic account of the group of orcas known as the West Coast Community. They face almost certain extinction because of human chemical pollution. >> read more …

Did you know that orcas are one of only five species known to experience menopause? And that females can live for many decades after their last calf? The only other mammals who exhibit this are short-finned pilot whales, belugas, narwhals and humans. >> lees verder …

Zeezeilers opgepast! Voor de Portugese en Spaanse kust, van Galicië tot Gibraltar plegen orka’s georganiseerde aanvallen op zeilboten. Wetenschappers staan voor een raadsel. >> lees verder …

In de zomer van 2018 gingen beelden van de rouwende orkamoeder Tahlequah, die meer dan twee weken haar dode jong voor zich uit duwde, de wereld rond. Twee jaar later is er goed nieuws. Tahlequah is opnieuw bevallen, en het kalfje ziet er sterk en gezond uit. Wetenschappers hopen op een succesverhaal dit keer, want … Meer lezen

The world feels very strange for most of us as we adjust to a new normal with altered routines and a different way of living. So it’s reassuring to hear reports that some traditions continue to the beat of more ancient, natural rhythms. Let’s explore the seasonal patterns of the little known orca groups of … Meer lezen

The U.S. Navy recently applied for exemption under the Marine Mammal Protection Act for the “incidental take” of marine mammals, in order to carry out training and testing activities in the Pacific Northwest. If approved, such activities would directly impact the endangered Southern Resident killer whales while traveling through or foraging in the Navy’s area … Meer lezen

A group of orcas has been spotted off the North East coast. More commonly known as killer whales, the ‘pod’ was captured on camera by Edward Sinclair – a lobster fisherman. >> read more …

SeaWorld San Diego has so far refused to release Corky, who was caught off the coast of Canada in 1969 aged four and is now the oldest captive killer whale in the world