![]() They have a varied diet and will often eat whatever comes through their path. As well as Fish, Squid, Octopus and more. Most Orca tends to feed on other marine mammals such as Seals, Dolphins, Sea Otters, Whales, and Sea Lions. Their large brain can weigh up to 15 pounds and is second to that only of the Sperm Whale, which has a brain that can weigh up to 20 pounds! What Do Orcas Eat?Īs the Orca is at the top of the food chain, they can pretty much pick and choose their diet. It’s really amazing how smart these animals are, so it should come as no surprise that they have the second-biggest brains among all marine malls. Once successfully herded, the Orca will use a series of tail slaps and bubbles to disorientate their prey, allowing them and their pod to effortlessly swoop up the stunned fish. Herding FishĪnother fascinating technique Orca will use to hunt prey is by working together to herd them into a small space. It’s really an impressive spectacle to watch and a demonstration of how intelligent and cunning they are. At the last second, the Orca will duck under the ice cap and the wave created will often wash the seal off the ice cap. The onlooking pod will swim information as fast as they possibly can towards the ice cap to generate a large wave in front of them. Then, the spotter will signal the rest of the team through its blowhole to commence the attack. One Orca will be a spotter to locate the seal on the ice, popping its head up to locate exactly where the seal is perched on the ice. This involves multiple Orca working as a team to create a wave and wash a seal from its ice cap. The most impressive technique Orca use to hunt prey is their formation swimming tactic. This is an effective hunting tactic that Orca use and uses the element of surprise to catch their prey off guard. The first technique Orca use when hunting is a good old snatch and grab.įor example, an unsuspecting seal may be laid on an ice cap and suddenly out of seemingly nowhere, an Orca will lunge out of the water and snatch the seal from the ice cap and bring it into the ocean. After all, multiple brains are better than one when it comes to hunting food.īelow are some of the methods that Orca use to hunt successfully: Snatch & Grab They hunt as part of a pack much like wolves, which is partly why they are so successful. They are incredibly intelligent and use this to their advantage to make quick work of prey. Orcas are some of the best natural hunters on the planet. Many of the planet’s top apex predators are endangered through us humans hunting them or causing devastation to their habitat. However, apex predators are not always safe. This helps prey animals to evolve, much like the saying “only the strong survive.” They are vital in keeping the ecosystem healthy by preying on the weak and allowing only the strong to survive. However, thankfully since this law got passed in 2005 we have seen the Orca population rise which is a great sign! What Is An Apex Predator?Īn Apex Predator is a predator that is at the top of the food chain and actively hunts other animals. We, humans, are the only real threat to Orca, which is a crying shame. Humans are a great danger to lots of marine wildlife, from over-fishing, pollution, and much more.įor this reason, the Orca has been endangered under the Endangered Species Act since 2005, meaning they are now protected by law. ![]() ![]() That being said, the Orca does face threats from elsewhere, us humans.Īs of 2021, there were 57 Orcas in captivity worldwide, with 30 being born into captivity. Pods of Orca have even been known to take on Great White Shark, and win! They are truly dominant creatures that can take on anything that lives in the water. They are some of the largest and most powerful predators on the planet, and because of their incredible intelligence, they are excellent hunters. Orcas are Apex Predators, which means they are at the pinnacle of the food chain and are the dominant force in the ocean. That’s right, they are at the top of the oceanic food chain! 6 Other Popular Posts Do Orcas Have Predators?
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