Latest news with #KillerWhales
Gizmodo
05-08-2025
- Entertainment
- Gizmodo
Orcas Pretend to Drown Each Other in Rare Training Session Caught on Camera
Orcas are called 'killer whales' (even though they're technically dolphins) for good reason. They're the ocean's top predators, hunting down everything from great white sharks to blue whales—the largest animal in the world. But orcas aren't born killers. It's a skill they learn from their elders and, as new evidence suggests, practice on each other. Parenthood, a new five-part BBC wildlife series narrated by David Attenborough, includes the first known footage of orcas learning how to drown their prey, as first reported by The Times. The training session is led by a matriarch and consists of one orca pretending to be the prey so the others can surround it and practice pushing its blowhole under the water. Video Shows Orcas Left Behind in Algae-Filled Tanks Months After French Park Shut Down 'Specialised underwater gimbals and tow cameras were used to bring cameras alongside hunting orcas underwater. This technology allowed the crew to travel at the same speed as the orca hunting pack and provided new insights into their behaviour,' a BBC spokeswoman told The Times. 'The practice-hunting behaviour appears to show members of an orca family submerging the head of one individual to prevent it from breathing—the technique used by killer whales to hunt large whales. This practice-hunting behaviour has never been filmed before.' The footage was captured near Western Australia's Bremer Bay, the same region where, in April, horrified tourists watched 60 orcas devour an endangered blue whale. After the practice session, the series shows the orcas using their skills while hunting a blue whale caught by surprise. Blue whales can hold their breath for somewhere between 10 and 30 minutes. Orcas training their young how to hunt is just one of many parenting moments featured in the wildlife series, which was filmed over three years in six continents and 23 countries. 'I think it's got all the feels—it's got great behaviour, it's got great emotion, it's got great humour, it's got relatable parental dilemmas. And it has a nod and a wink towards 'helicopter parenting' and 'snowplow 'parenting'—all those different terms that we bandy about as to what type of parent you are,' Jeff Wilson, the director, told the BBC. The series footage required 'an observational, non-invasive' approach, he added. 'We're very proud of what we've put on screen.' The show aired on BBC One on August 3 and is available on BBC iPlayer. We don't know yet when the U.S. release will take place, but I'm sure those of you in the States can't wait. After all, who wouldn't want to hear Attenborough's mesmerizing voice declare, 'Success for all parents has perhaps the greatest of consequences. It ensures the future of life on our planet.'
The Hindu
01-08-2025
- Science
- The Hindu
How whale poop is helping save the world
It is common knowledge that whales are the largest animals on the planet. Among these, the Blue Whale tops the list. The adults are about 30m and weigh around 200 tonnes. Imagine how much food they will need! Their food comprises very tiny crustaceans called krill. It is a paradox: the largest animals depending on the tiniest prey. The manner in which they feed is intriguing. They swim to the depths of the ocean and gulp huge quantities of water. This is filtered out through the many plates (baleen) in their cavernous mouth and the krill is left inside. The Blue Whale, Grey Whale and Hump-backed Whale are among the Baleen Whales. Other whales such as the Killer Whales or orcas hunt seals, sea birds and fish and have different hunting tools: their large conical teeth. Naturally, like all other vertebrates, whales too need to poop. After satisfying their hunger in the deep waters, they swim to the surface and excrete. What a lot of poop that would be in proportion to their size. But whales are always on the move, migrating across miles of ocean. Thus, their nutrient-rich poo — containing nitrogen, phosphates and other minerals — also gets distributed over vast distances, fertilizing the ocean and boosting the growth of phytoplankton, the microscopic plants that float on the water. Why they're important The inconspicuous phytoplankton are the heroes of the ocean. They absorb immense quantities of carbon dioxide and release oxygen. It is believed that more than half of our atmosphere's oxygen comes from phytoplankton. Thus, they not only provide pure air for life in the ocean but also on land. Whether you live next to the coast or in the remote interior, out of every five breaths you take, three breaths you owe to the ocean. Beyond this, the phytoplankton sequester humongous amounts of carbon dioxide and enable the ocean to serve as a carbon sink. Carbon dioxide is the major greenhouse gas, which prevents the sun's heat from escaping away from the Earth. In the last few years, human activities have been spewing unimaginable quantities of this gas into the atmosphere. The phytoplankton, along with plants on land, need to thrive in order to carry on their role of absorbing carbon dioxide. If it weren't for whale poop, phytoplankton would not thrive as much and there would be far more carbon dioxide in the atmosphere than at present. Just imagine, how much hotter summers would be. Thus, the all-important whale poop is actually saving the world by allaying climate change.
Press and Journal
12-06-2025
- Press and Journal
Speedboat reported to be harassing Orcas off the Moray Coast
A speedboat has been spotted harassing a pod of Orcas off the Moray coast. The boat reportedly crossed the path of the Killer Whales, which disturbed their course near Findochty. The incident is said to have happened at around 7am on Friday June 6. Orcas are often seen around the north of Scotland and the Outer Hebrides. Police say they received a report of the Orcas being 'deliberately disturbed' in Moray and are now appealing for information regarding the incident. Constable Smith, from Buckie Police Office, said: 'It is great to see these animals around the Moray coast. 'However, it is an offence to intentionally or recklessly harass or disturb a dolphin, whale, porpoise or basking shark. 'I would appeal to any members of the public in the area at the time who may have witnessed this incident to please contact Police Scotland on 101.' Anyone with information that could help officers can use incident number PS-20250607-1208.
Yahoo
12-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Exclusive: ‘Killer Whales' returns with second season premiering on March 6
-- The second season of "Killer Whales," the first Web3 business reality TV show, is set to premiere on March 6, 2025, on X and Hello TV, with a subsequent global release on major streaming services including Amazon (NASDAQ:AMZN) Prime, Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) TV, and Google (NASDAQ:GOOGL) Play in April. The show, which produced by HELLO Labs, CoinMarketCap and AltCoinDaily, is expected to reach over 600 million viewers across 65 countries. The new season promises higher stakes and features a panel of influential Web3 key opinion leaders (KOLs) as judges. These "Whales" will assess entrepreneurs competing for a prize pool that includes a $1.5 million incubation fund, mentorship, and a $100,000 accelerator package from CoinMarketCap for projects that secure enough favorable votes, HELLO Labs said in a press release. Contestants on "Killer Whales" vie for more than just financial backing; they gain access to a network of industry leaders, strategic partnerships, and a year-long marketing collaboration with the show's stakeholders. The second season will feature renowned figures from the Web3 sphere, including Mario Nawfal, Anthony Scaramucci, and Yevheniia Broshevan, among others, with Thread Guy as the host. The first season of the show saw a number of projects achieve significant growth, with 15% being acquired or raising substantial funding. Season one of "Killer Whales" garnered an 8.5 rating on IMDb, a 'Certified Fresh' badge on Rotten Tomatoes, and was streamed to a vast global audience. As the show gears up for its second season, it continues to partner with leading industry entities such as Hacken, Bitget, and Market Across to support contestants with mentorship and exposure. Related Articles Exclusive: 'Killer Whales' returns with second season premiering on March 6 WiseBit Introduces AI-Driven Tools to Support Trading Strategies Us Biotec Inc New Common Shares Announces Purchase of Bitcoin
