Orca Characteristics
The Orca or more commonly known as the Killer Whale, is a member of the oceanic dolphins family and the genus Orcinus. Orcas are highly intelligent marine animals that demonstrate unique physical traits as well as behavioral ones. Orcas must be protected to ensure balance in the ecosystem. Around 48 million years ago a species called, Pakicetus which has characteristic such as forward nostrils, forelimbs and hindlimbs for walking, no tail flukes evolved in a million years into another species called Ambulocetus, which looked alligator like and due to shortage of food on land fed in the water (University of California Museum of Paleontology). Ambulocetus evolved to adapt to these changes and developed characteristics such as growing from 6
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In the wild orcas have the capability and do travel hundreds miles on a daily basis in pods of many other orcas (Wild vs captivity, 2016). While in captivity cetaceans are isolated and have little room to move around in (Wild vs captivity, 2016). Whales in captivity cannot socialize with other whales because many come from different pods and this results in isolation and boredom of the whale often causing them to display self inflicting behavior and aggressive towards each other and their trainers (Wild vs captivity, 2016). As stated previously, only residential orcas feed on fish, however, in captivity orcas are only fed fish which can cause malnutrition for orcas that feed on other types of prey. Orcas in captivity are not able to utilize their hunting skills that they evolved to do(Wild vs captivity, 2016). Orcas are known to highly social animals, having deep reliance on their other pod members, however, the orcas in captivity are all from different pods which makes socializing difficult and orcas are left to depend on socializing with humans. Since, Orcas cannot hunt for their food in captivity they rarely use echolocation (Wild vs captivity, 2016). In the wild male Orcas, on average live to 30 years but can reach up to 30 years, and female orcas on average live to 50 years, and can live up to a 100. On the other hand, the average age of death of orcas in captivity is 13 years of age (Wild vs captivity,
In the wild orcas have the capability and do travel hundreds miles on a daily basis in pods of many other orcas (Wild vs captivity, 2016). While in captivity cetaceans are isolated and have little room to move around in (Wild vs captivity, 2016). Whales in captivity cannot socialize with other whales because many come from different pods and this results in isolation and boredom of the whale often causing them to display self inflicting behavior and aggressive towards each other and their trainers (Wild vs captivity, 2016). As stated previously, only residential orcas feed on fish, however, in captivity orcas are only fed fish which can cause malnutrition for orcas that feed on other types of prey. Orcas in captivity are not able to utilize their hunting skills that they evolved to do(Wild vs captivity, 2016). Orcas are known to highly social animals, having deep reliance on their other pod members, however, the orcas in captivity are all from different pods which makes socializing difficult and orcas are left to depend on socializing with humans. Since, Orcas cannot hunt for their food in captivity they rarely use echolocation (Wild vs captivity, 2016). In the wild male Orcas, on average live to 30 years but can reach up to 30 years, and female orcas on average live to 50 years, and can live up to a 100. On the other hand, the average age of death of orcas in captivity is 13 years of age (Wild vs captivity,