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Killer whale

28th October, 2021

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Context: A Killer whale sighted again off Lakshadweep.

  • Such sightings are rare, as very little is known about killer whale occurrence, seasonal movements, habitat and prey preferences, and behaviour in the northern Indian Ocean.
  • Such records highlight the rich whale and dolphin biodiversity in Lakshadweep waters.

 

About killer whales (orca):

  • Orcas belong to a highly evolved group of toothed whales under the suborder Cetacean and dolphin family and are widely distributed in temperate and tropical waters.
  • They have long life spans and are highly social, feeding cooperatively, and with complex vocal behaviours.
  • While most killer whale populations in other regions show high site fidelity and residence rates, resident populations are yet to be identified in the northern Indian Ocean.
  • Given their highly social and curious behaviour, orcas often approach fishing vessels to assess if there is any fish in the net, or just to observe people on the vessel.
  • In the wild, there are no instances of killer whales fatally attacking humans.

            

https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/killer-whale-sighted-again-off-lakshadweep/article37179396.ece