ORCA ─ Der ultimative Hai- und Wal-Killer

Unique social behavior and one of the most intelligent animals on the planet. The orca, also known as sword whale. Sword whales, also called Orcinus orca or simply Orca, are an unforgettable sight. They have earned the status of being one of the largest members of the dolphin family. They are found in almost every ocean in the world and are one of the most widespread dolphin species. Large populations were found in cold seas, including the Arctic and Antarctic. They are known for their good adaptation to cool and warm water habitats. Orcas, top predators, at the top of the food chain, can be easily recognized by their black-and-white smooth skin. Different populations differ in appearance and lifestyle, while young animals are more yellowish. A typical sword whale family consists of an adult female, their adult sons and calves of different ages. During every pregnancy, the sword whale female gives birth to a calf. Sword whales can grow up to 10 meters long and weigh 10 tons, which makes them one of the largest dolphins in the world. Compared to the sword whale female, the male has huge back fins. They have extremely large teeth, with a usual length of 4 to 10 centimeters. Take a close look at their teeth, because their bite is very strong. Sword whales have an excellent seeing ability, which allows them to see both above and under water crystal clear. The exact number of sword whale species is unknown, but it is estimated at at least 50,000 individuals, while about half of them live in the Antarctic. Orcas have a very long lifespan of 60 to 80 years, almost like humans. They are the wolf of the sea, because no one dares to look at them, because there is no natural enemy for them. A real beast. The nutritional basis of many sword whale populations is fish. It can eat both small fish and herring, as well as large predators, from roaches to sharks. The hunting techniques of the sword whale are very diverse and can be complex and unusual. In the case of the hijacked, the large, nutrient-rich liver is at the center, because the meat is hardly eaten due to the high carbohydrate content. Even sea birds like penguins often fall victim to sword whales. However, it is not easy to catch a king penguin in the water, because it is far superior to a sword whale in terms of agility. However, with a surprise attack, the orca has the advantage that the leopard can reach up to 56 kmh, while the penguin is a maximum of 14 kmh fast. The diet of the sword whale includes about 20 species of fins, including seals, sea lions and fur seals. So if you feel like a seal that rests on an ice shell, a spear sword whale discovers the seal and coordinates the rest of the group with the help of sound signals, so that they swim directly under the ice shell at the same time and create a wave that washes the seal into the water. When hunting sea lions, their goal is to isolate the weakest animal from their group and not to give them a chance to return to the shallow water. Then the sword whale exhausts its victim with constant attacks and stuns it with powerful tail blows. Finally, the strongest sword whale gives the exhausted sea lion a deadly blow and the game is over. But even on land, sea lions cannot feel completely safe, because even adult male elephant seals, the largest seals, which are up to 7 meters long and 5 tons heavy, can become prey for sword whales. Although dolphins are close relatives of sword whales and are superior to them in terms of speed and agility, they are often victims of this top predator, as well as many other whales, such as swine whales. Sword whales catch fast and agile dolphins through well-coordinated group actions and cohesion. Sword whales show very complex social behavior and have an incredibly high level of intelligence. Studies show that each sword whale group has its own dialect and unique sound signals passed on through learning over generations, similar to human communication. The way in which the sword whale expresses itself in its group is generated by whistling, pulsating calls, echo-location clicks, jaw rattles and low-frequency bangs. This complex communication system, combined with high intelligence, because the sword whale has the second largest brain among sea animals, allows it to successfully hunt not only dolphins, but also the largest animals on the planet. Then the whale appears, which is the main prey of many sword whale populations. When hunting a whale, almost 50 orcas join in groups and add several bites to it. They try to make it motionless. After that, the weakened whale is suffocated by blood loss, so that it can no longer breathe on the surface. Then the final blow follows. Isn't that ridiculous? With its length of 33 meters and a mass of about 200 tons, even the largest known animal in the entire history of the world, the blue whale, can become the prey of the rulers of the oceans. For this task, huge groups of more than 75 sword whales come together to hunt this huge animal. Orcas are very efficient and ingenious in their work, because every time they choose a different pattern of dynae to start an attack. Interesting fact. In captivity, living sword whales are often bored, and a form of entertainment for them is to hunt birds with bait. First, the sword whale throws a small fish far to the shore to the birds to arouse their attention. It throws the fish closer and closer and gradually reduces the distance until it suddenly attacks the unknown bird. Sword whales like to travel in groups. The groups include around 40 sword whales, who come together to hunt, to communicate and as a family. Several related families can get together and form a group in which all individuals treat each other friendly. But the pairing only takes place between individuals from different groups to avoid infighting. Swords can be trained in captivity. Curiosity, playfulness and problem-solving skills are often observed. However, there have been cases in which sword whales have attacked and even killed people in captivity, as stress from boredom, loneliness and separation from the calf together with the high intelligence of the sword whales could have played a decisive role in making them and people who enter their comfort zone somehow aggressive. The attacks were never hungry as a cause. Three of the four latest cases of death by sword whales go to the account of Tilikum, a sword whale in captivity. On the other hand, sword whales are very friendly to humans in the wild. So far, no fatal attacks have been reported by wild sword whales. At the same time, sword whales are not afraid of humans and even look for contact with them voluntarily. According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature, the status of the sword whale's protection has been negatively updated based on data. The decline of prey animals, environmental pollution, large-scale oil pollution and disturbances in the habitat are the main factors that lead to its decline. Orcas are one of the endangered species of marine life that are friendly to humans and must be protected. Strangely, sword whales, despite their enormous size and high number, are one of the least researched marine mammals. Tell us in the comments below what you think about this absolute power package. Playfully intelligent, ruler of the oceans, top predator, whale and shark killer. Don't forget to like this video. Hit the subscribe button. Activate the bell so you won't miss any more great creatures. Thanks for watching. See you next time.