Tuesday, November 04, 2025
Orcas
Since I was a kid I have been fascinated by Orcas, even though I have never seen one.
Though sometimes referred to as whales (and even "killer whales"), Orcas are actually the largest member of the dolphin family. They live in sophisticated matrilineal "pods" of related individuals. They actually live with their mothers until either the offspring or the mother dies-- and since they can live to be 90, pods often contain four generations of the same family.
The pods can be surprisingly complex, particularly as they hunt. Like wolves, they hunt as a pack and coordinate their actions with one another. The New York Times recently reported that some pods in the Pacific have developed techniques to disable Great White Sharks and then eat their livers (which, if you are an Orca, is a nutrient-rich delicacy). Those sharks can be about the same size as an Orca (about 20 feet long), and are considered apex predators themselves-- but the Orcas have the advantage of coordinated attack and technique.
Other groups gorge on herring by using a "carrousel" technique where they push the herring into a ball by circling them before devouring them.
Someday, I do hope to see one in the wild....
