Subject: Re: killer whale questions
Dagmar_Fertl@smtp.mms.gov
Wed, 09 Oct 96 12:32:24 EST
1. Killer whales (orcas) use their teeth to catch prey. Killer
whales eat a wide variety of food including other marine mammals,
fish, sharks, birds, and turtles.
2. Killer whales use their tail (flukes) to propel themselves through
the water. By rapidly moving the tail, they could gain enough
momentum to jump.
3. Killer whales can feed individually, or work together to catch
prey. The latter is very interesting to watch. Killer whales have
been seen to feed coordinated to catch marine mammals and to corral
fish into tight balls. Killer whales could either use echolocation
(sonar) to find food, or look for it with their eyes, or even just
listen for the food to make sounds. If the killer whale doesn't make
sound, prey like marine mammals, wouldn't be able to tell as quickly
that a killer whale was nearby.
4. I'm not sure I'd agree with the idea that killer whales would not
attack people. There is a famous incident of a pilot whale that
grabbed a lady by the thigh that was swimming with it. Killer whales
and other dolphins are wild animals, and people need to remember that
it can be dangerous to swim with them. In fact, in U.S. waters, it is
against the law to swim with any type of marine mammal. There is also
an incident of a trainer that was killed by a killer whale in
captivity.
For the most part, killer whales seem to be "tame" in captive
situations, and work well with their trainers. Also, in the wild,
many people in some locations will kayak with the whales swimming
around them...quite safely.
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Subject: Orca whales
Author: TIAC CUSTOMER <username@tiac.net> at ~smtp
Date: 10/7/96 11:10 AM
How do orcas eat how do orcas billed up the speed
to jump.How do orcas attck their pray.why do orcas not attck pepole.