Killer whale

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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.