“Orcas” or “Killer Whales”?
by Shilpa Shah
The mammals most widely known as ‘orcas’ or ‘killer whales’ are the top predators of the ocean. They feed on a huge variety of creatures, from fish, sea birds and squid to seals, dolphins, sharks and whales much bigger than them. (50 orcas were recently observed hunting the largest mammal on our planet, the blue whale.) The only known threat to them is human behaviour.
Killer Facts
Killer whales are equipped with powerful jaws, up to 52 deadly interlocking teeth, a mighty fluke for slapping and a whopping top speed of around 50km per hour, but they communicate with each other to form excellent team work.
18th century sailors are said to have referred to the orca as ‘whale killer’, which may have been where the term ‘killer whale’ originated (Ballena asesina (‘assassin whale’) was used by the Spanish). Orcinus orca, the official species name, is no less a ferocious title. It broadly means ‘demon belonging to the realms of the dead’.
A dangerous reputation
When it comes to killing, orcas really know their stuff. Their hunting strategies show us just how creative and ingenious killer whales can be. Yet killer whales have been depicted negatively in Western cultures as far back as Roman times, when they were described as a ‘sea monster’ and ‘enormous mass of flesh armed with savage teeth’. The predatory feeding behaviour was interpreted as ‘a cruel act of violence’, especially as some orcas eat dolphins, which were revered as a good omen at the time.
Killer whales have been attacked over the centuries, particularly by fishermen who considered them competition for fish and often a danger to themselves. Even up until the 1970s US Navy diving manuals described the orca as ‘extremely ferocious’, warning that they will ‘attack human beings at every opportunity’. This is nonsense. There is no known record of an attack on humans in the wild. These magnificent hunters have been included in culling quotas around the world and even shot at for military target practice. For a long time, in many cultures they were considered evil at worst, irritating pests at best.
The reputation swings from the 1970s
Captivity of killer whales became popular in Western cultures, starting in North America. People observed the intelligence, warmth and gentleness of orcas towards humans. Orcas experienced a new reputation, which was perhaps almost as dangerous for them as their ‘killer’ moniker – being perceived as cute, docile and enjoying performing tricks for human entertainment like a pet.
More was learnt about killer whales, particularly by researchers observing them at sea. We learnt about their strong family bonds, their team hunting strategies, their methods of communication. It became clearer and clearer how cruel captivity is, and the public opinion against aquariums and marine parks grew stronger.
Well then, which term should we use?
So, the public image of the killer whale changed rapidly from evil sea monster to cuddly marine park superstar to environmental mascot, all within 50 years or so. Perhaps it’s not surprising that lots of people are confused about whether to call them ‘orcas’ or ‘killer whales’. We actually use both terms interchangeably at Orca Guardians, just as I have done in this blog. However, as current human-made threats such as overfishing, fish farms, toxic pollution and climate change affect the health and longevity of these apex predators and all marine life across the world, it is still important to ask ourselves who is doing the killing.
My personal favourite term for the orca or killer whale is actually ‘Skana’, meaning ‘killer demon’ or ‘supernatural power’, used by the native Haida people of Canada, who understood and revered their nature and abilities long before Western cultures did. I like ‘Skana’ because it seems to convey the blend of powerful respect and warm admiration that these beings evoke in me.
(I’m grateful to Erich Hoyt’s book ‘Orca: The Whale Called Killer’, 1981, and these articles for aiding the research for this blog.)
