What is an orca?
Orcas, also called killer whales, are the largest member of the dolphin family. They’re intelligent predators that live in family groups, called pods, of up to two dozen animals. Orca pods are much like wolf packs—pod members care for each other, protect the young and hunt together as a well-coordinated team. Orcas are fast—they can put on bursts of speed in excess of 40 miles (63 kilometers) per hour. Orcas are thought to live between 50 and 80 years. They can be reproductively active all year ’round. A newborn pup weighs between 100 and 200 pounds (45-90 kilograms). Males are larger than females, and the mature males have a taller dorsal fin. Male killer whales may weigh as much as nine tons (8.2 metric tons), while females may weigh up to 4.5 tons (4.1 metric tons).
