Orcas!

Today is World Orca Day! For realies ... 🐋 (there’s no orca emoji – I have a problem with this and demand to speak with the manager!) 

The first World Orca Day was held on November 8, 2013. It was initiated by marine biologist Dr Ingrid N. Visser  at the World Whale Conference here in Boston.

Here are ten facts about our yacht wrecking buddies that you should absolutely know (most of these have been pulled from Georgia Strait. Visit the site for more incredibly fascinating info)

1. Orcas are the largest member of the dolphin family.
2. Orcas are highly intelligent and able to coordinate hunting tactics. Orcas have the second largest brain of any animal in the world. Their large brains, paired with extreme amounts of folding means things like language, memory and emotional capacity are highly developed, allowing orcas to develop rich culture. Sperm whales have the largest brains. 
3. Different kinds of orcas are called “ecotypes.” They hunt specific prey and live in different parts of the world. There are at least 10 different ecotypes of orcas in the world 
4. Orcas are extremely fast swimmers and have been recorded at speeds of up to 33.5 mph (54 kph).
5. A wild orca pod can cover over 99 miles (160 kilometers) a day, foraging and socializing.
6. Orcas have been roaming oceans for approximately six million years.
7. Southern Resident orca, J-2 aka Granny, was the oldest known orca in the world. She died in October of 2016, at approximately 105 years old. Due to lack of food and the effects of marine pollution, Southern Resident orcas are passing away before reaching their normal life expectancies of 60-80 years for females, and 40-60 years for males.
8. Orca societies are strictly matriarchal, with pods led by the oldest, most experienced females (usually grandmothers).
9. Adult Resident orcas eat an average of approximately 385 pounds of salmon daily to stay healthy. Chinook salmon are the main source of food for Resident orcas, but this key prey species has had consistently low spawning returns for several decades. A lack of food means orcas starve to death.
10.  Orcas are some of the most pollutant contaminated animals on the planet. Human-made industrial chemicals like DDT, PCBs and PBDEs,  don’t break down in nature and bioaccumulate (become highly concentrated through the food chain). These toxins are stored in the fat tissue of orcas. Studies show that orcas experience issues with reproduction, development and immune system function due to these contaminants.

WHY are orcas called “killer whales?”

Ancient mariners (who may or may not have dropped fresh rimes) watched orca pods’ coordinated hunt and take down of much larger sea life, i.e. whales, so they were called “whale killers.” This eventually morphed into “killer whales.” 

Killer whales rely on underwater sound to feed, communicate, and navigate. Killer whales communicate with each other through clicks, whistles, and pulsed calls - the latter which are unique among populations and are learned and culturally transmitted among individuals. These calls maintain group cohesion and serve as family badges. (source) 

They receive sound through their lower jaws. Sound waves from echolocation travel from their jaws to their inner ear and on to their brains, where detailed images of their environment form. This is, like, SO Star Trek! Or, rather, Star Trek is SO based on real life, real science.

While all orca populations are protected under the Marine Mammal Protection Act, two groups receive additional special protections under federal law:

• Southern Resident Distinct Population Segment (DPS) (listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act and designated as depleted under the MMPA)
• AT1 Transient stock (designated as depleted)

There are only about 73 Southern Resident orcas left, making them one of the most critically endangered marine mammals.

They live in the Pacific Northwest, feed exclusively on fish, with Chinook salmon making up 80% of their diet. I can dig it. On the rare occasion that I indulge in fish meat, salmon’s my choice too.

Problem:

Chinook populations have declined and dozens are already extinct, due to dams on salmon streams, habitat loss and too much fishing pressure. (source) 

This has led to over two-thirds of orcas pregnancies failing between 2008 and 2014 because expecting mothers didn’t get enough food. That and the baby orcas don’t get enough to eat so their chances of survival are dim. All because stupid humans put in dams, overfished and shit.

Have I mentioned lately that humans suck?