A few thoughts regarding orcas

[Zomby Woof]

One of the many reasons I loved life in the northwest corner of the lower 48 was the presence of orcas (orcinus orca) in Puget Sound. They are beautiful, noble creatures, and an enduring symbol of the region's natural heritage and primal allure.

No one I ever knew during my long tenure in Seattle would dream of calling orcas by that wretched misnomer "killer whales". I am not sure of the origins of that unfortunate name, but I don't doubt it was born of classic human ignorance and fear, working in tandem. Now, due to the recent events in the southeast corner of the lower 48, this misnomer will burrow just a little deeper into the national vernacular.

If you ever have been fortunate enough to see orcas in their natural habitat, it's not something you will ever forget. If I seem a little hyperbolic and dramatic about this (and this is DU, home of hyperbole and drama, so I am just fitting in), it is precisely because I was lucky enough to see them several times while making my way through the waters of Puget Sound.


http://wc-zope.emergence.com:8080/WildernessCommittee_Org/campaigns/wildlife/orca/images/two_orcas.jpg

[nolabear]

1. Hey ZW, I'm in Seattle too. I couldn't agree more.

The difference between the wild Orca and the life the captive ones lead is so marked it's heartbreaking. I've worked with captive wildlife and while I truly enjoyed being near them (it was an animal sanctuary for injured and unreleasable animals) I can't express enough that they were deeply affected by captivity. Happy/unhappy? Sometimes it was obvious, sometimes less so. You know and I know that free Orcas are complicated, social, independent hunters who live lives not that different from ours. The ones in shows like Tilikum was (ironic name, eh?) have to be lonely, bored and, liable to do things we can't possibly understand the motives for. I can't stress enough that this is a tragedy for him, too.

Btw I have been told that the name coms from their hunting prowess, which is considerable.

[Bryn]

2. They're beautiful!

You're fortunate to be able to see them in the wild. They should never live in a tank for people's entertainment.

I am from Florida. I loved to watch the dolphins at play at sea. Must be awesome to see orcas for you.

[Zomby Woof]

6. I left Seattle 7 years ago this summer

So it has been a long time since I have called it home. Still get back there every few years to see old friends.

[Maru Kitteh]

3. I used to dislike animal waterparks - I've changed my mind.

I LOATHE them with a white hot passion now.

[jobycom]

4. I remember a news story with footage a few years back.

Where a cruise ship was watching some whale--Humpback, maybe--off the coast of California, when a pod of orcas appeared and started "playing" with the Humpback. The audience was enchanted and amazed. When the water began to spout a foamy red, the enchantment turned to horror and a brutal lesson about the cuteness of the wild. :)

I think "Killer Whale" has something to do with that, more than what they do to humans.

----

From Wikipedia: The name "killer whale" derives from the Spanish "ballena asesina" ("killer whale" in English), evidently coming from sailors who observed them hunting whales.<9><10> English-speaking scientists most often use the term "killer whale."<11>

"Killer whale" advocates point out that its naming heritage is not limited to Spanish sailors. Indeed, the genus name Orcinus means "of or belonging to the kingdom of the dead",<11> and although the name Orca (in use since antiquity) is probably not etymologically related, the assonance might have given some people the idea that it meant "whale that brings death" or "demon from hell." The name is also similar to Orcus, a Roman god of the underworld. Also, there is the fact that some members of the species have killed people (although such killings occur only when the whales are in captivity and never in the wild).<12>

Ancient Romans originally applied Orca (plural Orcae) to these animals, possibly borrowing it from the Greek ὄρυξ, which referred (among other things) to a whale species. Since the 1960s, Orca has steadily grown in popularity; both names are now used. The term "orca" is preferred by some to avoid the negative connotations of "killer",<13> and because the species is a type of dolphins rather than a whale.

They are sometimes referred to as blackfish, a name also used for other whale species. Grampus is a former name for the species, but is now seldom used. This meaning of grampus should not be confused with the Grampus genus, whose only member is Risso's Dolphin.<14>

[Zomby Woof]

5. I appreciate that

I will say, the way the media is playing up the name - it will cause people to link it to killing people and not what you saw on the news footage of the cruise ship.

On edit: And I kind of proved my point about hyperbole and drama - my own being pretty bad. :woohoo:

[LeftyMom]

9. They'll kill white sharks too.

Though they don't run into each other often, most areas support one large apex predator or the other, and they prefer different water temperatures anyhow. But this biologist-witnessed encounter is sure interesting:

http://www.prbo.org/cms/174

Orca Meets White Shark Who's Queen of the Sea?

by Peter Pyle From PRBO Observer #111, Fall 1997

October 4, 1997. Southeast Farallon Island. News via marine radio from the vessel New Superfish- that an orca had just killed a large shark immediately north of the island-catapulted us into action. Field biologists Jon King, Will Richardson and I jumped into our 17' white shark research vessel and headed for the event. Through heavy seas, we slogged into a large slick strewn with bits of shark. Just ahead of us an orca came to the surface, lifting the head of a 12' White Shark out of the water!With our video pole-camera extended underwater, we circled the event, obtaining footage of the sinking shark carcass and the whale feeding on a table sized chunk of the shark's liver. As quickly as that, it was over, but the memory will last a lifetime.

We had considered this situation but never thought we would ever see it. What would happen if an orca met a white shark? Now we have some idea. But orcas are rare around the island; PRBO biologists have observed them fewer than once per year on average, over the past 15 years. In fact, wherever in the Pacific orcas are common, white sharks are rare and viceversa. Through evolution, it seems, the two species have been kept in their separate corners. Thus we consider this recent event anomalous- of minimal ecological importance. Biased no doubt by our respect for the fish, we prefer to think that there are still two queens of the sea.

[TZ]

10. Yep. The name killer whale comes from their predatory prowess in the wild

Have you seen the films of them "playing" with sea lions, where they use their tails to bat them back and forth? Its pretty brutal.
Interesting enough, not all Orcas prey on the same things. Pods that are nomadic tend to be the ones who go after larger prey like whales, sharks, dolphins. While pods that are residential (or tend to stay in the same area) tend to eat mostly salmon and other fish.

Killer whale is only a misnomer in terms of Orcas being more like dolphins than the larger whales..
Otherwise ZW, the term Killer Whale isn't pejorative at all.

[Zomby Woof]

21. There you go

They are more akin to dolphins than whales - I overlooked that.

But it's not so much that I think it's a pejorative term, so much as the media uses the word "killer" to make it sound more menacing, rather than it being - itself. It's a predator like many in the food chain. But it adds drama and B-movie sensationalism to the media circus to say "OOh! A KILLER whale!".

I would gladly revise my OP to reflect the input and insight of you and jobycom. I came across as being against its use unconditionally - and I sounded rather hand-wringy (too much time in GD?). Rather, I am against exploiting the name for media gain as much as I am against the other forms of exploitation. But nothing can be done about that.

Still, I do stand by my assertion that no one I knew in WA ever used the name 'Killer Whale'. That may have been because they were native there, and it was customary and habitual to call them orcas, rather than due to any objections about the other name.

[TZ]

23. Whats funny is I think it was the late 70's where there

was a movie called Orca! about a Orca who went mad after the death of a family member and started killing people. It was the Jaws of the Cetacean world!
Here it is:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orca_(film)
Slightly off topic but an example of how even traditional media can scare people..A few years back my mom went to a beach in Delaware. She spent the day watching a Sperm Whale swim up and down near the beach chasing fish. I asked her if she went in to the water and she said "No! Of course not..I've read Moby Dick!!" :rofl:

[Zomby Woof]

25. That damn Melville!

:grr:

:rofl:

Blue whales migrate right off the coast here where I live. There are whale watching tours, so I really would love to see them in action.

Most of the whales passing by here are grays - but very cool knowing the largest animals of all time migrate just a few miles from here.

[LeftyMom]

29. That was the scariest movie since Night of the Lepus!

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0069005/

[driver8]

15. There was a great show on tv about this...

It was absolutely fascinating! My son and I watched it, and then watched it again and again!

The show goes into how different pods of Orcas have developed different ways of hunting based on the food that is available to them. Orcas are so intelligent and the way that they communicate is amazing.

[dana_b]

30. I have seen orcas up close, hunting a

sea lion. It was a pod with two young orcas. We were on a diving boat and saw the young ones sort of playing with the sea lion and then bumping into him. The sea lion escaped by coming up onto the back of the boat (the step down) and we saw that a huge chunk of his flank was missing. The marine biologist on board confirmed that there was no way that this sea lion was going to make it. Anyway, the orcas disappeared (so we thought) and eventually the captain lowered the step dpwn and the sea lion went back into the water. As soon as that happened, the four orcas rose out of the water and attacked. They had been following us under water the whoe time. It was horrific and amazing at the same time.

Ever since then I have had the ultimate respect for them and could never understand going to see them perform "tricks".

[marzipanni]

7. I have seen dolphins and whales in the ocean, but not orcas

I looked up "Free Willy", which my son and I watched when he was little. It is based on the story of Keiko, an orca kept in captivity until the film was made, when people were moved to set him free. Unfortunately he was not used to living in the ocean, still depended on humans, and did nor survive.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keiko_(orca)

Here is a group which helps orcas and is trying to arrange the release of an orca called Kshamenk, in captivity in Argentina. He was used to living in the ocean for several years before he was caught and would likely do well if released. Readers are asked to send an email to the president of Argentina, (since this website was made the former president's wife was elected) Cristina Fernández de Kirchner, telling her of their concern. There are YouTube videos of Kshamenk, and as of June, 2009, he was still at the Mundo Marina amusement park in Argentina.
http://www.keiko.com/alert3.html

I wrote an email to President Fernández de Kirchner several minutes ago, at that email address on the above link, and it seems to have gone through.

[Zomby Woof]

8. I remember when Keiko died

Thanks for the links! Especially the email.

[TZ]

11. This is why I'm not one who goes around advocating

we free Tillikum. It might be not in her best interest if she's lived in captivity for a long time. I do not advocate condemning a whale to death over captivity.

[Zomby Woof]

19. Do you think Spock and Kirk were wrong about the humpbacks?

;-) :P :rofl:

Seriously, I am no biologist, so I defer to your judgment.

I really just wanted to express my love for the animal - I never said I was rational about it. :dunce:

[TZ]

20. Oh no, They are wonderful creatures

The name Killer Whale has never bothered me honestly. They are also nicknamed the Wolves of the Sea because of their pack hunting techniques.

[Zomby Woof]

22. I have decided

It only bothers me when Brian Williams uses it, with a gleam in his eye, lol. (not changing the channel between Olympics broadcasts, lol)

[Blue_Tires]

12. beautiful, beautiful animal

[Orsino]

13. They're cute--and sometimes friendly--carnivores.

Not all that different from us.

I think we may do them a disservice by acquainting ourselves with them only at their most tame and adorable. To appreciate them (and their evolutionary niche) fully, we should watch them hunt baby seals as well.

[Schema Thing]

14. I'm amazed at how many people seem to think the name...

...means they are just naturally dangerous to humans. Or worse, that they will attack humans as food.

[driver8]

16. Great post and great photos! Thanks for posting this. n/t

[tigereye]

17. beautiful creatures.. and they have a powerful significance for some First

Peoples, from what I have understood.

[hunter]

18. This "Killer Ape" agrees.

Call us "human," but by the "Killer Whale" nomenclature the common name for humans really ought to be "Killer Chimpanzee" or "Killer Ape."

[Arugula Latte]

24. "Killer" is a strange name -- as if no other animal hunts other animals for food.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

26. Killer Whales have a well earned name.

Even the scientific name Orcinus Orca is likely derived from Orcus, Roman god of death.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ewj1PpTHwDw&feature=fvw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q8tUvVsXFYM&feature=fvw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MqRzdpd3tAs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O0qMT2YBIcg&feature=related

Killer whales. Dicks of the sea.

[Blue_In_AK]

27. Another fan of orcas here.

I cringe at "killer whale," also.

[geardaddy]

28. Those are some beautiful fish

:hide:

[Taverner]

31. The term killer whales came from a typo - its supposed to be Whale Killers

As in they're bad ass mofos who take down other whales. And narwhals too

[BlueIris]

32. Orcas are matriarchal. Female killer whales outnumber male killer wales 4:1.

Hee.

[pokerfan]

33. Magnificient wild animals

that weigh up to ten tonnes and can hold their breath longer than you can. They are not pets.

[marzipanni]

34. I just found this link on Google news- USA Today poll- End orca shows?

http://content.usatoday.com/communities/pawprintpost/post/2010/02/killer-whale-fans-say-end-the-shows-your-turn-to-vote/1