Species profile

Name: the orca or killer whale (Orcinus orca) is the largest member of the oceanic dolphin family.

Appearance: orcas have a distinctive black back with white patches above and behind their eyes. The males have large, straight dorsal fins which can reach up to 1.8 metres tall!

Size: males typically range from 6 to 8 metres long and weigh over 6 tonnes. Females are smaller, reaching 5 to 7 metres and weighing between 3 to 4 tonnes.

Diet: orcas have a diverse diet – with different populations specialising in particular types of prey. Some feed exclusively on fish, others hunt marine mammals such as seals and dolphins, and some groups target whale calves and even adult whales.

Did you know: orcas are highly sociable and intelligent animals that live in female-led family groups known as pods. Their sophisticated hunting techniques and vocalisations, which are often specific to a particular group and passed across generations, have been described as examples of animal culture. While almost all animals reproduce until they die – including long-lived ones like elephants and blue whales – orcas are one of only three species that buck the trend. Like humans, female orcas go through the menopause in their 30s or 40s, despite living for decades more. This allows them to help their offspring raise the next generation and increases the survival of the whole pod.

Location: orcas can be found in each of the world’s oceans in a variety of marine environments – from the Arctic and Antarctic regions to tropical seas. The only areas where they are absent are the Baltic and Black seas, and some areas of the Arctic ocean.

Where to see orcas

According to reports submitted to WildSide, you can see orcas in the following places: