We often hear about the mysterious killer whales. Killer whales are legendary apex predators known for their massive kills. They are thought to be the strongest apex predators in the sea, able to take down gigantic prey such as whales – which is why their name – the ‘killer whale’. However, it turns out that these incredible creatures are not only amazing swimmers, but they are also highly specialized hunters. In fact, according to recent studies, killer whales can kill large sharks with one bite! This was previously thought to be an impossibility.
Killer whales are, of course, not the only apex predator in the ocean. There are many other creatures with spectacular predatory abilities. Orcas, for example, are known as the ‘great white shark’ or the ‘big-oil scallop’, but these are not to be mistaken as merely fish-eating species. These orca are also said to be responsible for the death of a great number of humpback whales. These orcas have even been found to actively hunt other types of marine animals such as dolphins and capricorn birds.
So how does this apply to the idea that killer whales may also be dangerous? To understand this, we need to think beyond the animalistic view of things. The truth is that humans are responsible for the demise of many apex predators in the marine environment, as well as causing the decline of certain other animals. Therefore, if we want to know how dangerous some animals are, it is important to remember that they are very capable of hurting people.
For instance, consider the case of the orca. This is a killer whale with a very large, toothless mouth which can grow quite large indeed, capable of ripping its prey to pieces with a single swipe. This creature can swallow a football-sized fish whole, which will then die within just a few minutes. The fact that these orca are now protected by law and are frequently seen in various theme parks across the country indicates that we need to be more cautious when approaching such animals.
Another problem with thinking that killer whales are only dangerous to humans if they attack people is that they do not leave any sign of their activities. Most orca pods live close to islands where they feed regularly. In such cases, it is very difficult to distinguish their tracks from those left by other larger creatures. In addition, whales are able to camouflage themselves as easily as other large animals while swimming in the ocean. This means that human beings are very unlikely to notice the presence of killer whales unless they come very close.
Finally, another misconception about these creatures is that they are only aggressive when confronted with human beings. Killer whales are known to hunt large prey and occasionally attack other pods in their own pod, but they are not known to attack humans. They have been known to attack and push aside other pod calves, although this has rarely occurred over long periods. Overall, human beings are probably the biggest risk to these orca whales, although they certainly pose no immediate danger. The best way to prevent being attacked by an orca is to stay well away from them.
