Killer Whale

    

Killer Whale jumping out of the water

Photograph from coloringkids.com

     Killer Whales, also known as Orcas, are black on top with white undersides and white patches near their eyes. Gray or white saddles lie behind their dorsal fins, which are unique across individual killer whales and populations. They are highly sociable mammals, relying on underwater sound for orientation, feeding, and communication. Killer Whales produce whistles and pulsed calls, named echolocation for communication and keeping the group together. They are found in all parts of the ocean, but mainly colder regions near northern North America, like the North Atlantic,  Canada, and Pacific oceans. Their diet includes fish, small mammals, sharks, and sea birds.
     Currently, the Killer Whale is not on the list of endangered animals, but some specific populations are threatened, and others are considered extremely vulnerable to a number of threats.
     The threats Killer Whales face are natural dangers in their habitats and by human activities. In the natural dangers category, Killer Whales suffer from fungal and bacterial infections or they can get parasites that can undermine their quality of life. They have also been known to suffer from Hodgkin’s disease, tumors, stomach ulcers, and skin diseases. Other large animals are not a problem for the orcas. If they are full-grown healthy adults, they have no predators
     Human activities pose a greater threat to them, such as commercial-hunting, or whaling, to market their bodies, which is one of them most important threats to killer whales, capturing for entertainment, habitat pollution, excessive noise due to their communication, decreased prey, collisions with boats, issues with fisherman, and climate changes.

How to Help:

     Conservation efforts in the Recovery Plan for the Southern Resident Killer Whales include support salmon restoration efforts, clean existing contaminated areas, improve ship activity, prevent oil spills, enhance public awareness, and research coordinating with these conservation efforts. The public can help by adopting a whale and donating to the World Wildlife Fund.

Sources:

https://www.worldwildlife.org/species/whale

http://www.killer-whale.org/killer-whales-endangered/

http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/species/mammals/whales/killer-whale.html