Orcas
Latest about Orcas
![Orcas swimming near a boat](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Nbsm3yxJsvRyg422B4vWYK-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Nbsm3yxJsvRyg422B4vWYK-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Nbsm3yxJsvRyg422B4vWYK-500-80.jpg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Nbsm3yxJsvRyg422B4vWYK-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Nbsm3yxJsvRyg422B4vWYK-840-80.jpg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Nbsm3yxJsvRyg422B4vWYK-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Nbsm3yxJsvRyg422B4vWYK-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Nbsm3yxJsvRyg422B4vWYK-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
Orcas sink another boat in Europe after a nearly hour-long attack
By Harry Baker published
For the fourth time in two years, a group of unusually brazen orcas in southwestern Europe have sunk a sailing boat after relentlessly attacking it for almost an hour on Halloween.
![Orcas killer whales underwater in dark night sea.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ohmAGxo2ho4a4BSkLSYqEL-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ohmAGxo2ho4a4BSkLSYqEL-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ohmAGxo2ho4a4BSkLSYqEL-500-80.jpg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ohmAGxo2ho4a4BSkLSYqEL-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ohmAGxo2ho4a4BSkLSYqEL-840-80.jpg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ohmAGxo2ho4a4BSkLSYqEL-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ohmAGxo2ho4a4BSkLSYqEL-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ohmAGxo2ho4a4BSkLSYqEL-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
11 ways orcas show their terrifying intelligence
By Patrick Pester published
Orcas have their own dialect, greeting ceremonies and even wore salmon as hats in a weird fad during the 1980s.
![An orca attacks a whale, which is gushing blood from its mouth.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/9mnjqLQRhh4X6ZQdXTqiWA-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/9mnjqLQRhh4X6ZQdXTqiWA-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/9mnjqLQRhh4X6ZQdXTqiWA-500-80.jpg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/9mnjqLQRhh4X6ZQdXTqiWA-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/9mnjqLQRhh4X6ZQdXTqiWA-840-80.jpg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/9mnjqLQRhh4X6ZQdXTqiWA-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/9mnjqLQRhh4X6ZQdXTqiWA-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/9mnjqLQRhh4X6ZQdXTqiWA-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
Orcas are learning terrifying new behaviors. Are they getting smarter?
By Sascha Pare published
From sinking boats and feasting on shark livers to dining on whale tongue and tossing porpoises around for fun, orcas are displaying some fascinating — and sometimes terrifying — behaviors.
![A killer whale hunting alongside a whaling boat in the early 20th century.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/hgqiAea73xyUNSuyHo4QXg-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/hgqiAea73xyUNSuyHo4QXg-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/hgqiAea73xyUNSuyHo4QXg-500-80.jpg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/hgqiAea73xyUNSuyHo4QXg-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/hgqiAea73xyUNSuyHo4QXg-840-80.jpg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/hgqiAea73xyUNSuyHo4QXg-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/hgqiAea73xyUNSuyHo4QXg-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/hgqiAea73xyUNSuyHo4QXg-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
Orcas that hunted alongside humans might be extinct
By Patrick Pester published
Researchers used DNA analysis and traditional knowledge to learn about an orca named Old Tom and his family's remarkable relationship with humans.
![An orca playing with a porpoise and balancing it on its head.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/QhmgJ9kUv7spkvfCe2q3gi-320-80.jpeg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/QhmgJ9kUv7spkvfCe2q3gi-450-80.jpeg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/QhmgJ9kUv7spkvfCe2q3gi-500-80.jpeg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/QhmgJ9kUv7spkvfCe2q3gi-650-80.jpeg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/QhmgJ9kUv7spkvfCe2q3gi-840-80.jpeg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/QhmgJ9kUv7spkvfCe2q3gi-970-80.jpeg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/QhmgJ9kUv7spkvfCe2q3gi-1024-80.jpeg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/QhmgJ9kUv7spkvfCe2q3gi-1200-80.jpeg 1200w)
Orcas are harassing and playing with baby porpoises in deadly game that has lasted 60 years
By Sascha Pare published
Scientists may have finally figured out why a population of orcas in the Salish Sea have been tossing porpoises around and taking them into their mouths without eating them.
![Stranded killer whale laying on the beach opposite 6 otters that were found inside its stomach](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/fDrgRy4sFJVY7RgkSksCti-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/fDrgRy4sFJVY7RgkSksCti-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/fDrgRy4sFJVY7RgkSksCti-500-80.jpg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/fDrgRy4sFJVY7RgkSksCti-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/fDrgRy4sFJVY7RgkSksCti-840-80.jpg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/fDrgRy4sFJVY7RgkSksCti-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/fDrgRy4sFJVY7RgkSksCti-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/fDrgRy4sFJVY7RgkSksCti-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
Scientists investigate mysterious case of orca that swallowed 7 sea otters whole
By Elise Poore published
The female orca was found far from her normal hunting ground with six whole sea otters in its stomach and one lodged between its oral cavity and the esophagus.
![A mother orca and her calf swim near a boat and the coast in northern Norway.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/qVz66sgqMPHvKxs2vE5GPj-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/qVz66sgqMPHvKxs2vE5GPj-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/qVz66sgqMPHvKxs2vE5GPj-500-80.jpg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/qVz66sgqMPHvKxs2vE5GPj-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/qVz66sgqMPHvKxs2vE5GPj-840-80.jpg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/qVz66sgqMPHvKxs2vE5GPj-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/qVz66sgqMPHvKxs2vE5GPj-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/qVz66sgqMPHvKxs2vE5GPj-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
Opportunistic orcas have developed a new feeding behavior that appears to be killing them
By Sascha Pare published
More orcas have died entangled in fishing gear in Alaska this year than in previous years, which may be linked to a "new behavior" where they feed in front of ascending fishing nets.
![Lolita performs at the Miami Seaquarium.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/iw4H5A9J5U6sFsCMnFQCth-320-80.jpg 320w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/iw4H5A9J5U6sFsCMnFQCth-450-80.jpg 450w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/iw4H5A9J5U6sFsCMnFQCth-500-80.jpg 500w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/iw4H5A9J5U6sFsCMnFQCth-650-80.jpg 650w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/iw4H5A9J5U6sFsCMnFQCth-840-80.jpg 840w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/iw4H5A9J5U6sFsCMnFQCth-970-80.jpg 970w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/iw4H5A9J5U6sFsCMnFQCth-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/iw4H5A9J5U6sFsCMnFQCth-1200-80.jpg 1200w)
Lolita, the 2nd-oldest orca in captivity, who was set to be released to the wild, has died
By Harry Baker last updated
Lolita, also known as Tokitae, died before she could be returned to her native waters in the Pacific Northwest.
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