White Eye Orca Research Paper

Orca whales are the largest members of the dolphin family. Orcas are very curious creatures, they like to sky hop, which is when they poke their heads out of the water and look around, and they can also dive to as much as a hundred feet. These social animals live in pods and stay with them for their whole lives. They are so family oriented that they can may sleep together in a tight circle and have synchronized breathing. Orcas can grow up to thirty-two feet and can weigh nine tons. They typically eat five percent of their body weight and are amazing hunters. The lifespan of an orca in their

Historical levels of the Southern Resident Orca population are currently estimated to have been as high as 200 (Fisheries.noaa.gov, 2015). The population as of 31st December 2015 was calculated at just 84 individuals (Center for Whale Research, 2015). There is limited data on the population before the mid 70’s so it is unknown what the population pattern looked like prior to this. Appendix A shows a graph documenting the population data found by a census started in 1974, as well as modelled data from 1960 to 1974. The graph starts with a low population, possibly explained by the frequent capture of live animals for marine parks (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 2014, p. 3). After this period the graph shows fluctuations in the population, then a steady growth resulting in a peak in 1995, then a sharp decline – almost 20% until 2001. This fast decline is what prompted governments to first list the population a threatened (United States Environmental Agency, 2014). The population has remained stable in the following years but now has an endangered status (Fisheries.noaa.gov, 2015).

Some people argue that keeping orcas in captivity is not a problem, yet they do not realize some of the limitations and dangers orcas suffer when kept in captivity. One reason is that these unpredictable, thirty-foot long creatures are usually kept in a tank that is too small for them, compared to the ocean where they can swim freely. In captivity, space is limited. According to one expert, “orcas can swim up to 100 miles per day- a phenomenal amount, in comparison to the exercise they receive in captivity” (Cronin). While in captivity, an orca has to keep swimming in circles or float, unable to exercise adequately in a confined space. The small tanks also prevent orcas from living in their natural group sizes, or pods. “In the wild, killer whales typically travel in pods of between five and 30” (Melissa). In captivity, fewer than five whales are kept together, an imbalance that makes the whales more aggressive towards one another. This can lead to dangerous, territorial situations in which captive

Since 1961, Killer whales have been held captive in a tank for entertainment. Helpless whales get captured from their families and get forced to live in artificial social groupings. At least 56 orcas have been captured and are currently held in captive. 23 of them were captured from the wild, and 33 were captive born. At least 163 orcas have died in captivity, not including the 30 miscarriages held in captivity. As you can tell, killer whales have a great negative impact when their in captive.

People say that keeping orca’s in captivities is not a problem, yet they do not realize that, orcas are also human beings. There are several reasons, why keeping these thirty-feet long creatures, in captivities is a problem. One of them, which are the tank, which is too small, compared to ocean where they can swim freely. One the other side, in captivities, the space is limited. Comparatively, to how they swim out in the wild “orcas can swim up to 100 miles per day- a phenomenal amount, in comparison to the exercise they receive in captivity”(Cronin). While being in captivity, orca has to keep swimming in circles or floats. Out “In the wild, killer whales typically travel in pods of between five and 30”(Melissa). In captivities there are only few whales, so it makes them more aggressive toward one another. This sometimes can be lead to danger by killing each other for fighting to gain power of the tank.

Killer whales are apex predators, lacking natural predators of their own, and inhabit all of the worlds oceans and most of our seas. They vary broadly in behavior, diet, and communication patterns. There are three main sympatric ecotypes of killer whales present in the Pacific Northwest, known as “resident”, “transient” and “offshore” killer whales. Of these, the resident whales of the Salish sea have been by far the most heavily studied. Their prey is salmon, chinook salmon in particular, and they hunt cooperatively. The resident pods are divided into “northern residents” and “southern residents”, the latter being comprized of three pods (J, K, and L). These three pods are well researched, as their markings and distinct calls make identification extraordinarily accessible to human scientists. Orca are distinct among mammals for the long post-reprodutive life of female orca, who provides extensive parental care even after menopause. Numerous studies have shown a clear correlation between the mother’s survival and the offsprings fitness. This paper will explore the matrilinal social structures of Puget Sound’s orcas to assess the evolutionary advantages to close mother-son relations. In particular, it will examine the difference in behavior of female and male offspring upon reaching sexual maturity, and relate this to similarities or differences in parental care output from male and

The longest a captive born Orca has very lived is twenty-five years (Rose, 3). The average life expectancy is six years in captivity. Eighty six percent of 135+ whales in captivity since 1961 are now dead (KIWE, 3). SeaWorld, one of the most famous marine parks exhibiting Orca whales, has experienced approximately one Orca death a year since beginning their breeding program. It is reasonable and logical to expect at least a third of all captive whales to still be alive today considering the number of males and females, years since the first Orca entered captivity, and life expectancies in the wild, but only twenty percent is still living. “The most parsimonious explanation for this failure to show improved survivorship, despite the effort by Oceanaria to advance husbandry techniques in the past forty five years, is that Orcas are inherently unsuited to confinement” (Rose, 3).

Orcas are not actually in the whale family, but are classified in the dolphin family as the largest and most powerful predators of this group. They reside in pods of up to 40 members and each pod will communicate in their own different language that only members of that pod can understand. While in the wild, Orca females can live up to one hundred years and males up to fifty years of age. But when the whales are held

When orcas are in the wild, females usually live an estimated average of 45-50 years and up to about 90 years. Males live about an average of 30 years, but they can live up to 50-60 years. In captivity, the life spans are heavily reduced and most orcas do not live beyond about 20 years. The way the whales are treated while they are in captivity at SeaWorld causes them to die faster. Captive orcas usually die from the stress of boredom, depression and from the intense aggression between other whales.

My favorite story that I heard on CNN news was the stroy about Sea world not taking in anymore killer whales. I felt like this should have been done sooner due to all the horrific stories I hear about how the killer whales are kept but im also happy that this kind of containment is coming to an end. The thing that broke my heart about this story was that the killer whales that are kept there are the last ones they will keep, although I do realize they probably cant survive out in the open on their own, it is still upsetting. The reason they decided to end the captivity of the Orcas is because of one of them, Tilikum, killing their trainer, Dawn Brancheau, and the media demanding the stop of captivity. But when the media went into this demanding

Do you know dolphins are skilled hunters? Well here are some facts why they are such skilled hunters. Killer whales have been nicknamed wolves of the sea. And they are one of the fasted ocean mammals. Predators or animals that hunt are known for their highly developed senses and abilities that help them find prey.

The development of fetal Narwhals and Beluga whales are very similar. Both the Narwhals and Beluga whales conceive sexually. “The Narwhals and the Beluga whales both participate in seasonal breeding,” (Life, 2013). The gestation period for both whales is somewhat similar to that of humans. The whales’ average gestation period lasts between 10-12 months. The lactation period is unknown for the Narwhals and Beluga whales. The two whales birth their young through the viviparous method, which results in a live calf that can swim immediately after birth.

Physical Traits/Adaptations: Bottlenose dolphins are typically dark grey near their dorsal fin, light grey near their midsection, and almost white at the underside. They are colored this way to provide countershading, which is an adaptation that makes them hard to see, both from above and below, when

Dolphin reproduction starts with a couple dolphins. The amount of time it takes for the baby dolphin to be born varies depending on species. The mothers of the dolphins usually head towards shallow waters to deliver their babies. The calf is usually born tail first. Another dolphin accompanies the mother sort of like a midwife shortly after the calf is born. The mother then nurses the calf for about 18 months with milk. The fat in the milk allows the calf to grow quickly . During the early months of life for the newborn dolphin, the pod sticks around the mother and her offspring. The calf stays with the mother for about 6 years. When the dolphin is mature it might venture to a new pod, which is initially in the same proximity. Female dolphins

The third quality is their mating. Both southern and northern species' mating takes place during the spring. After a gestational period of about 11 months, female bottle-nosed whales deliver a single baby and then nurse it for nearly a year. They give birth every two or three years.