Species Spotlight: Killer Whale

Killer Whale

Vital Signs

Common name: Killer Whale
Latin name: Orcinus orca
Status under SARA: Populations range from Special Concern, Threatened to Endangered
Range: Pacific, Atlantic and Arctic Oceans
Population Estimate: Range from 48 to 100, Northeast Pacific southern resident population is 85
Life Span: 17 to 29 years on average, but can live up to 80
Size: Maximum of 7.7 m to 9.0 m in length (smaller on average), with an average weight of 4 to 5 tonnes

The Story

Killer Whales have a wide range, and are found in all of the world’s oceans, but generally prefer colder regions. Occasionally, they are even found in rivers and in brackish water and have been documented off the coasts of central California and southeastern Alaska.

In Canada, they can be found in all three oceans, and occasionally in the Hudson Bay and Gulf of St. Lawrence. They have been found in almost all of British Columbia’s salt-water areas, and in a few fresh-water sites. They are highly sociable and live in family-related groups called pods, which can range in size from 5 to 50 whales. Pods are generally led by females.

The whales feed on a wide variety of prey including salmon, squid, octopus, sea turtles, sea birds, sea and river otters, cartilaginous fish, and cetaceans. Particular populations are believed to specialize in certain types of prey.

Sexual maturity is considered to be 15 years of age on average, with a documented gestation period in captive animals of 12 to 17 months. The interval between calving is estimated from 2 to 12 years and occurs year round with a peak period between fall and spring. This species is very protective of its young.

The Killer Whale has no natural predators, but due to its frequent travels in busy fishing lanes and heavily populated areas, which results in collisions with recreational and fishing vessels, entanglement in fishing gear, and exposure to environmental pollution, the death rate for whales aged birth to six months is estimated as high as 50%. Whales are also threatened by loud underwater noises from dredging and declining salmon stocks.

The Facts

	Killer Whales can be found in water temperatures ranging from 0°C to warm, tropical waters.
	Transient whales are known to spend time in water less than five metres deep, often foraging in inter-tidal areas at high tide, and occasionally feed on land mammals such as deer, moose and pigs.
	Length of calves at birth ranges from 218 to 257 cm.
	It has a blunt head, and its tall dorsal fin, located in the middle of the back, can reach a height up to 1.8 m in adult males. The pectoral fins and tail flukes are also generally larger in adult males.
	They communicate with each other using a range of squeaks, whistles and whines. Each pod has its own unique ‘dialect’ and language set. Individuals as far as several miles away can hear these sounds underwater.

What is Being Done

Legislation to protect the species was first introduced in 1970, under the British Columbia Wildlife Act, and in 1982 they were added to regulations under the Fisheries Act of Canada – prohibiting hunting without a license, except for aboriginal hunting.

Killer Whale

In the early 1980s and 90s, the largest fisheries dealing in exportation and fishing of Killer Whales were discontinued; however, it is possible that small numbers are still being harvested. In the United States, the Killer Whale was included under the 1972 Marine Mammal Protection Act, and was later added to the International Whaling Commission moratorium in 1980.

Under the Species at Risk Act Registry (SARA), the Killer Whale has been assessed into five distinct populations in relation to their geographic distribution and been given statuses of “Special Concern”, “Threatened” and “Endangered.”

Recently, the federal government issued an order of protection for Killer Whale habitat, after environmental groups filed a lawsuit in October 2008. The new legislation classifies the territories of the Northeast Pacific Northern and Southern Resident Populations of Killer Whale as critical habitat, making it illegal to destroy. The legislation will also lead to further protection under SARA for Killer Whale habitat. Though this move is a positive step towards protecting Killer Whale populations, the whale’s future is still uncertain.

What You Can Do

Resources:

Canadian Wildlife Service, Canadian Wildlife Federation, “Mammal Fact Sheets” Hinterland Who’s Who

Government of Canada, Species at Risk Public Registry