What Do Orcas Do?
Behavior
Orcas swim together in groups called pods. This is similar to the way fish school. Orcas are dominant hunters. Orcas hunt large fish, seals, sea lions, birds and some mammals. Their favorite food is seal. Orcas also eat a lot of food (this is why they are so heavy!). They eat over 400 pounds of food in a day! Orcas can swim up to 30 miles per hour. They are the fastest animals in the ocean, and they are at the top of the food chain. Orcas give birth to one baby every 5 years. Average orcas live up to 26 years in captivity and up to 100 years in the wild (more information is in life). In captivity, orcas enjoy humans petting them. Some people even wonder if the bond between orcas actually replaces the natural wild connection. People have noticed the orcas can do tricks well, but some people just think they do it to kill time. Like their dolphin cousins, orcas are extremely vocal animals. They use echolocation to communicate. |
Wonderful Words
Learn A Fact!Although orcas have a top speed of 30 miles per hour, they usually swim at 26 miles per hour for long trips. Do It Yourself and ThinkDo you wonder why the orca lives so long in the wild and so short in captivity? Think about it. The answer is in the Life section. |