Edited / White Flower Flower
Foreword: Why are wild killer whales, as the overlords of the ocean, particularly friendly to humans and do not attack humans like dolphins and sharks?
Killer whales have their own unique tastes
The way killer whales communicate and the diversity of their languages have always been a hot topic in the scientific community. They live in the depths of the ocean and are divided into species, clans, and communities.
They differ in habits, language, and appearance depending on where they live and food preferences, but there is no reproductive isolation from each other.
When it comes to food preferences, different killer whale populations have different food choices. Deep-sea sedentaries mainly eat fish, including molluscs such as squid.
Nomads prefer to eat marine mammals such as seals, sea lions, walruses, etc., probably because they require a lot of energy for long journeys, and these animal meat is rich in energy.
While different killer whale races have different food choices, they all like to eat their liver and tongue. Killer whales will hunt great white sharks and baleen whales as an example. Killer whales hunt great white sharks mainly to eat their livers.
Whereas, in the case of baleen whales, killer whales only eat their tongues and liver, and prefer to eat the tongues of baleen whales the most. This is because baleen whales have a thick tongue and rely on their tongue to drain water from their mouths and retain edible parts when they swallow fish and shrimp.
Killer whales have different strategies for hunting and targeting the ocean's apex predators in different seas. Killer whales have been recorded in groups to hunt their prey for food.
Killer whales prefer to live in groups, especially when resting. They form small colonies of 2 to 3 individuals, and large colonies of up to 40 to 50 individuals.
Whether traveling, foraging, or resting, killer whales have always been organized in groups. They take care of each other and maintain a certain level of sobriety. This social behavior is essential for the survival of killer whales.
At the end of the 18th century, whaling in Australia officially began. At that time, people used various primitive methods to capture huge marine mammals and obtain valuable substances such as oil, meat, and bones from them.
Human whaling
Over time, whaling technology matured, and the industry grew exponentially as an important economic activity.
In 1860, the Davidson family established the Eden Whaling Station in Tofford Bay, New South Wales. The natural conditions of this area are very suitable for whaling, which has allowed the whaling business to expand rapidly.
During this period, a killer whale named Old Tom and his community roamed the coast of South Australia.
Old Tom is recognized for his unique body size, helping the Davidson family in whaling and working with other killer whales to make the hunt more efficient.
Old Tom and his community were rewarded by helping humans kill baleen whales. They use their superiority in the ocean to guide whaling ships closer to baleen whales, and then work together to subdue them.
However, in an accident, Tom Sr. gets into a conflict with fisherman George Logan, resulting in his death. The incident not only affected Tom Sr.'s community, but also had a profound impact on the local whaling industry.
In honor of Old Tom and the whaling history he represents, the Davidson family established the Garden of Eden Whaling Museum. Tom Sr.'s skeleton has become an iconic exhibit in the museum, showcasing the former sea monster.
Human-friendly killer whales
Although killer whales are apex predators in the ocean, why do they never hunt humans?
Killer whales tend to track and prey on creatures that are unable to swim fast or have a weak ability to escape, while humans are usually more capable of surviving and swimming.
Killer whales feed primarily on fat-rich foods to satisfy their high-intensity lifestyle. Humans typically have low body fat levels and don't provide enough energy support for killer whales, so they don't list humans as potential prey.
They have the ability to recognize the presence of a human and can respond appropriately based on human behavior and body language.
This can lead killer whales to maintain a friendly attitude towards humans and thus not target humans. Killer whales are social animals with a strong sense of community and cooperative behavior.
They show a high degree of cooperation in joint predation, breeding, and territorial protection. Like other of their kind, killer whales may have evolved a symbiotic relationship with humans, choosing not to attack humans in order to protect themselves and their colony for survival.
Although we can speculate about the reasons why killer whales do not hunt humans from the above aspects, the exact answer is unknown. The specific reasons why killer whales form friendly relations with humans may require more in-depth research and observation.
However, killer whales' friendly attitude towards humans reminds us to cherish and protect marine biodiversity and build a more harmonious relationship with these animals.
Refuse animal shows
Tilikum is a killer whale that lives in a marine park in Canada. Its name comes from the Chinook language of the northern Pacific Ocean, which means "killer whale that eats like a large fish bladder".
In this marine park, it is a star in the spotlight, but at the same time an animal with a tragic fate.
Tilikum's life has always been appreciated and intoxicated by the audience. It is trained as a performer and is forced to perform on a daily basis.
While there have been reports of killer whales attacking humans, Ocean Park continues to keep them in captivity, bringing in a lot of revenue and spectators through them.
However, Tilikum's life was not perfect. Records show that since 1960, when humans first kept killer whales in captivity, there have been more than 40 safety incidents, and several trainers have been seriously injured or even killed by killer whale attacks.
The wild environment of killer whales is completely different from the captive environment in captivity. In the wild, killer whales are able to hunt and live freely in the ocean, while in captivity, they live a life of confinement and control.
The tragedy of Tilicum stems not only from a life of captivity and deprivation of liberty, but also from an act of aggression against humanity. Records show that it killed trainers and spectators through several attacks.
This aggressive behavior is closely related to the inner pain of killer whales. In captivity and forced to perform, it has experienced tremendous stress and psychological damage that is indescribable.
To date, Tillikum has had 21 children, but only nine have survived to this day. This is because these newborns are often driven away shortly after birth, separated from their parents and siblings.
This broken family bond can cause great psychological damage to killer whales, leading to their potential to attack humans. Many captive killer whales attack trainers and spectators because they are forced to perform performances, a protest against their painful and oppressive lives.