Killer whale
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Context: A Killer whale sighted again off Lakshadweep.
- Such sightings are rare, as very little is known about killer whale occurrence, seasonal movements, habitat and prey preferences, and behaviour in the northern Indian Ocean.
- Such records highlight the rich whale and dolphin biodiversity in Lakshadweep waters.
About killer whales (orca):
- Orcas belong to a highly evolved group of toothed whales under the suborder Cetacean and dolphin family and are widely distributed in temperate and tropical waters.
- They have long life spans and are highly social, feeding cooperatively, and with complex vocal behaviours.
- While most killer whale populations in other regions show high site fidelity and residence rates, resident populations are yet to be identified in the northern Indian Ocean.
- Given their highly social and curious behaviour, orcas often approach fishing vessels to assess if there is any fish in the net, or just to observe people on the vessel.
- In the wild, there are no instances of killer whales fatally attacking humans.
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