Context – Two people were rescued from the attack of Orcas in the strait of Gibraltar.
Key facts related to Orcas:
- Common name – Killer whale
- Family - They are largest of the Dolphin family.
- Biology & Size - Adults, Killer Whale males are considerably larger than the females. They are about 9.5 m long and weigh up to 8 tons, whilst females are 7 to 8.5 m long and weigh 4 tons or more. Calves at birth, 2-2.4 m long.
Along with pilot whales and sperm whales, this is the only mammal species other than humans, where females are known to have an extended post-reproductive period (menopause)
- Social being - Extended family groups of Killer Whales live together and cooperate in hunting.
- Behaviour - Killer Whales are usually approachable, as they are undisturbed by shipping. They might respond by spy hopping, which involves rising vertically so that the head and body – as far as the flippers– are above the surface.
- Diet - The diet of a Killer Whale is very diverse, including fish, squid, turtles, birds and dolphins. This animal is one of the only predators of large marine mammals, including the largest whales.
- Natural predators - Killer whales have no known natural predators except possibly other killer whales.
- World distribution - : Killer Whales may be found in coastal as well as deeper waters. The Killer Whale is very cosmopolitan, occurring in all oceans, from the tropics to the polar regions. But these unique mammals are most abundant in colder regions like the Southern Ocean surrounding Antarctica, the North Atlantic around Norway and Iceland, and the northern Pacific around Alaska.
- Records from India: Killer whales have been reported from the Andaman and Nicobar islands, southeast coast of India, off Andhra Pradesh, northern Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry and from the west coast of India, mainly Maharashtra to Kerala.
- Conservation status – Data deficient as per IUCN