IAS Gyan

Daily News Analysis

ORCA

16th December, 2022 Environment

Copyright infringement not intended

 

Context: Two cities in United States’ state of Washington have taken steps to formally declare their support for legal rights for a group of endangered orcas. City of Port Townsend and City of Gig Harbor in the Pacific Northwest have signed proclamations to secure the inherent rights of the Southern Resident Orcas.

 Details:  

  • Orcas are found across the world and are also known as “killer whales”.
  • It is the largest member of the Delphinidae family, or dolphins.
  • Members of this family include all dolphin species, as well as other larger species, such as long-finned pilot whales and short-finned pilot whales, whose common names also contain "whale" instead of "dolphin”.
  • Killer whales are highly social, and most live in social groups called pods (groups of maternally related individuals seen together more than half the time).
  • Killer whales rely on underwater sound to feed, communicate, and navigate.
  • Southern Resident killer whales are the only endangered population of killer whales in the United State

 

https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/wildlife-biodiversity/two-united-states-cities-declare-support-for-orcas-legal-rights-86570#:~:text=City%20of%20Port%20Townsend%20and,their%20proclamation%20December%2012%2C%202022