ORCAS

Inteligentne i rodzinne

BASIC INFORMATION
The orca (Orcinus orca) is a species of marine mammals from the dolphin family belonging to the cetaceans. They have a distinctive black and white colouring and their body is muscular and slender. Their dorsal fins are distinctly curved, making them easy to identify.
They are among the most intelligent creatures on the Earth. They have a developed brain and cognitive abilities. They can solve problems, cooperate in groups and learn new behaviours. They are very familial, maintaining a 3-4 generation relationship.
Killer whales are predators. Their diet includes fish, squid and even other sea mammals. They can hunt in groups to gain an advantage over their prey. Sometimes they even dash ashore to catch seals or penguins.
Orcas communicate using a variety of sounds, including whistles, clicks and taps. Each group of orcas has its own unique dialect. This allows them to work together effectively during the hunt.

FASCINATING CLOSE ENCOUNTERS WITH HERDS OF ORCAS
These beautiful creatures can be found in the north of Norway, which is one of the best places to observe them. The world’s largest population of them, around 2,000 individuals, lives here.
In the fjords to the north of Tromsø, between October and February, the warm Gulf Stream flowing along the Norwegian coast ensures mild winter climate. There is no ice in the fjords and huge shoals of Norwegian herring arrive in winter. This attractive food attracts orcas, whales and fin whales to hunt.
On our “Auroras and Whales” trips we organise several-day whale safaris and usually encounter killer whales and humpback whales every day.
These encounters are very spectacular as herds of these animals appear close to our yacht, interact with us and we can almost touch them. They emerge by the side of the yacht, swim underneath it, circle around us.
Very often we witness them hunting and through this we can observe them in different situations. In this area, orcas hunt fish in a characteristic way. First, with the help of irritating sounds they gather the shoals into tight groups and then strike them with their tails to stun them.
On several occasions we have seen orcas leap out, raise their heads from the water and show their tail fins. Their intelligent behaviour leaves us in awe.
All of our encounters with herds of orcas were safe. The orcas have never attacked a human in the water, and often interact with divers swimming here.