Although they have an evil name, the wild killer whales are not actually interested in hunting and killing humans. Despite being the ocean’s apex predator, capable of killing even the biggest blue whales and sharks, no one has actually been killed by a wild orca. The reasons for this surprising fact include their diet preferences, developed senses, and curiosity towards humans.
To begin with, orcas are known to be very picky eaters. Unlike other predators, their diet depends on the pod they belong to, which makes them not apex predators. Some pods stick to fishing while others go for seals exclusively. Also, they are very intelligent animals which can learn a lot from their elders. So when they leave their pods, they continue eating the same things their grandparents taught them to eat. Since humans have never been part of their diet, they cannot consider people edible.
Another reason for their peaceful attitude towards humans is their developed sense of hearing. When searching for food, the wild killer whales use their sonar to find what they need by sending ultrasounds and analyzing the way these sounds bounce off the objects in the water. When an orca’s sonar identifies a person in the water, it can distinguish a human from a seal or a whale because human bodies consist of different amounts of fat and are smaller in size. So, humans seem less appetizing to the killer whales because the human body lacks thick, rough skin and has less fat than the skin of the seals and whales.
The last reason for this peaceful co-existence is that orcas are actually quite curious about humans. In fact, they are not violent animals naturally. Although there were cases of them attacking people, these incidents occurred when people were in the orcas’ habitat, provoking the killer whales to defend themselves. Also, there were cases when wild killer whales actually saved humans from drowning. However, when they are in captivity, they often become aggressive because they cannot adapt to their new surroundings.
Recently, there were also reports about orcas from the Iberian Peninsula chasing after many boats that drifted too close to their territory. Although the Spanish and Portuguese media reported that the killer whales have been “on a bender”, many other scientists believe that such behavior is only entertaining playfulness. It seems that these orcas have been developing some kind of unique culture which can be entertaining for humans, just like their elders used to show them. They start circling the boats that move away from the shore, nudge the rudder, and check how the boat responds to their initiative. Then, when the boat stops, they become less interested in the moving vessel.
If I had a chance to observe wild killer whales, I would rather watch them interact with each other than watch them hunt. They see us as animals that are not edible, so they are curious about us.
MBH/PS
