Killer whales - largest representatives dolphin family. They have always attracted human attention with their beauty and grandeur. Those who saw them in wildlife they say that it is impossible to take your eyes off when these graceful, despite their size, mammals appear on the surface of the water. But it is a carnivore that eats sea inhabitants. And in this regard, many are interested in whether these whales attack people, are such cases known, how dangerous are they for humans? After all, they live everywhere, although they rarely approach the shores, but this also happens.
Scientific classification of animal
An orca is not a fish, as is sometimes thought, but a marine mammal from the dolphin family. It is the only representative of its genus and noticeably differs from all dolphins not only in contrasting color, but also in structure:
- The head is not so long, without a beak;
- The dorsal fin is straight, strongly rising above the body;
- The pectoral flippers are not pointed, unlike those of dolphins, but oval in shape;
- They have a light spot above each eye and behind the dorsal fin.
Mammals are distributed everywhere. The only waters where animals do not swim are Azov, Black and Vostochno - Siberian sea. In our country they are found in the coastal waters of the Kuril Islands and in the southwestern part of the Pacific Ocean.
Killer whales are predators. Their diet is mainly pinnipeds. But much depends on the specialization of the population. Thus, mammals living off the coast of Norway prefer to eat Norwegian herring.
There is an opinion that animals do not attack people, despite the fact that they are carnivorous. Is it so?
Can a killer whale attack a person?
As experienced sailors, Arctic explorers and trainers in aquariums say, the predator does not pose a danger to humans in natural environment a habitat.
All carnivores concentrate their attention on familiar prey, a predisposition to which they have developed over generations. Killer whales are the last link in the ocean food chain, their only rival is the shark, but as practice shows, the latter prefer not to mess with them. Therefore, the mammal has a sufficient choice of prey; the menu can be updated at least every day. She has no need to get involved with what is unusual.
In nature, everything lives according to laws. A person can arouse interest and curiosity, but why hunt him when there is enough familiar food nearby. Almost no attacks on humans by these animals have been recorded.
Known cases of killer whale attacks on humans
Officially there is not a single documented case of an animal attacking a person in the wild. They talk about one incident: in 1986, a predator attacked a surfer. The guy survived, but lost his leg. However, this is known only from the words of eyewitnesses.
Killer whales can be very aggressive, especially during the breeding season. Zoologists and trainers say that captive predators can be dangerous because they are often under stress.
There are several known cases of attacks on aquarium workers:
- In the 90s in America, a mammal dragged a trainer underwater. At first it was planned according to the script. But when the beast emerged, he did not let go of the man, but plunged into the water with him again. What saved Mike was that he had been studying killer whales for many years. Without giving in to panic, the trainer began to stroke the ward as if nothing was happening and thanks to this he remained alive;
- The most tragic incident occurred in 2010. One of the males kept in the aquarium grabbed the trainer by the hair and dragged her to the bottom. The woman died.
Not a single animal was killed after the attack. In each case, the fault lay solely with the person. You should expect an attack from a predator at any time, especially if you keep it in captivity.
Is the animal under protection?
IN Lately the number of designated mammals has greatly decreased. The person is to blame, of course. The point is to increase the volume of fishing. Fishermen perceive killer whales as competitors and exterminate them. These animals are protected are not located.
In 1982, a moratorium on hunting these animals was introduced. However, irresponsible fishermen do not comply with it. In addition, predators are becoming increasingly popular in aquariums. They are captured and placed in artificial pools to prepare for performances.
Meanwhile, these are unique creatures, with complex social organization. They live in families, which usually include a female and her cubs. Families, in turn, unite into flocks. Members of the pack are very strongly attached to each other.
Finding a match for them can be difficult. Individuals of the same flock do not mate with each other, since they are relatives. Mating only occurs when connecting with another group.
Young healthy members of the group take care of the old and sick. They provide them with food and protect them in times of danger.
Killer whales need protection. Yes, they are not on the verge of extinction, but if the problem is not addressed in time, this will happen.
Population status in the world
The issue of protecting marine predators is controversial. In our country, killer whales are excluded from the Red Book list. Scientists justify this by saying that they do not have natural enemies. They themselves eat up to 250 kg of fish per day, including the more vulnerable ones who become their food rare species. Fishermen claim that they lose 60% of their catch in places where the predator lives.
On the contrary, the World Commission is sounding the alarm and asking for an investigation. Scientists in other countries argue that there is not enough information to make such statements and require a more in-depth study of the problem. In their opinion, the population needs careful protection, since it is one of a kind. Wherein it is necessary to properly regulate their numbers and then you will be able to avoid mistakes.
In addition, the United States actively opposes keeping mammals in captivity. Some states have already passed legislation to ban it. It does not allow the predator to be used as a circus performer. In our country this issue does not yet arise.
Any animal obeys the laws of nature. He will never intentionally harm a person except in special situations. If you are going on vacation to the ocean and are wondering whether killer whales can attack people, or are afraid of becoming their victim, don’t worry. They rarely come close to land, and they don’t even consider us as food. Sharks are much more dangerous in this sense.
Video: killer whale attack on trainer
Below is shocking footage of this cetacean attacking its trainer:
Movies present killer whales as cute, big creatures that can make friends with a boy and his friends, perform tricks without training and squeal pleasantly. But a kind killer whale is the same fairy tale as Santa Claus or Babai. Moreover, this animal is more similar to the latter in its disposition. In a pod, killer whales are friendly, stick to their family and do not look for partners on the outside. But if you displease the killer whale in some way, you will get a 6-7 meter monster with a mouth full of fangs.
In American aquariums you can interact with almost all the animals of the sea. There are stingrays, dolphins, fur seals, and penguins. Not without killer whales.
Until now, scientists had not even thought about training these ferocious predators. But by pure chance, during experiments, American neurophysiologists discovered in these predators not just the ability, but a real love for dancing. One day, scientists gave a young male a chance to listen to Beethoven's violin concerto. Literally with the first sounds of music, the animal began to rush around the pool, dancing on its tail and jumping out of the water. He tumbled in every possible way on the water, stuck out his head and tail, and let out fountains of water. This love for Beethoven’s work brought killer whales into captivity in aquariums.
Killer whales are large dolphins. They are divided into three types according to size: large, black and ferez. The last one is the smallest - only 2 meters - and extremely rare. The black killer whale reaches 6 meters in length and weighs 1.5 tons. However, she prefers a warm climate. Large killer whales are exactly the breed that took part in the filming of the film “Save Willy.” Among all her relatives, she is the most dangerous. In nature, a killer whale has no enemies, so there is no fear. She hunts birds, fur seals, seals, dolphins, squid and even sharks. In extreme cases, the entire pod overwhelms the baleen whale. In pursuit of prey, killer whales are capable of reaching speeds of 30 km. at one o'clock. Killer whales communicate with high-frequency pulses similar to clicks. Echolocation is as important for them as it is for bats. Without it they are blind and deaf.
This is not to say that killer whales are bloodthirsty monsters. If the oceanic world is equated with the savannah, then killer whales will be lions. Cases of killer whale attacks on humans in the open ocean are very rare. Over the past 30 years, only one case has been recorded - in 1986, a killer whale attacked a surfer. He survived, but lost his leg, which the killer whale injured with its teeth.
But in the American aquarium SeaWorld, tragic incidents involving killer whales occur year after year. Oceanarium trainers say that killer whales periodically try to bite or drag a person into the pool. But commands almost always help bring some sense into predators.
However, a tragic incident occurred in 1987. Then, during the performance, the killer whale jumped out of the water and fell straight onto the trainer standing on the shore. As a result, he suffered a broken leg and several ribs. In the 90s, a killer whale grabbed trainer Mike Scarpuzzi by the leg and dragged him to the bottom. “It was a well-practiced trick,” said Mike, vice president of “ Water world" “According to the scenario, the killer whale jumped out of the water, and the trainer dived into the water from its nose. But the unexpected happened that day.”
Despite the team of trainers, the killer whale plunged Mike 10.9 meters under water. A minute later, both the prey and the predator reappeared on the surface, but the killer whale ignored all the commands and sank to the bottom again. Mike had 12 years of experience with killer whales and other marine animals. And this experience told me not to panic, to act as if everything was going according to plan. Overcoming the pain in his bitten leg, the trainer began stroking the killer whale with his usual movements. She loosened her grip and calmed down, after which Mike, with the last of his strength, swam to the edge of the pool and was immediately given into the hands of doctors.
But the most tragic story happened this year. The American company SeaWorld in Orlando was fined 75 thousand dollars this time. The reason for the fine was insufficient adherence to safety rules, which led to the death of 40-year-old trainer Dawn Brancheau. Information about the tragic incident was posted on the website of the US Department of Labor.
On February 24, 2010, a male named Tilikum grabbed his trainer by the hair during a performance and dived to the bottom of the pool. The woman choked on water. Many demanded that Telikum be euthanized, but management decided to leave the killer whale in the aquarium for brood. In fact, the animal is not dangerous to humans, since it did not intend to kill or eat the trainer.
This incident created a wave of fear among fans of performances with predators. And for good reason. Communication between humans and wild animals is pleasant entertainment. But it’s worth thinking about, is this entertainment so pleasant for the animals themselves?
Killer whales- marine mammals from the suborder of toothed whales and the dolphin family. This is the largest of the dolphins and the only true predator among cetaceans.
They can reach 10 meters in length and weigh up to 8 tons.
Killer whales are the true kings of the oceans and are at the highest level of the ocean food pyramid. As soon as they see the characteristic black and white color of killer whales, not only dolphins and whales, but even white sharks try to get out of their way. You can read more about how white sharks are afraid of killer whales in the article “A predator that even great white sharks fear has been discovered” .
Depending on the region where they live, killer whales can feed on fish alone (there are especially many such killer whales in the Norwegian Sea) or on pinnipeds and penguins. When there is no suitable food, they can eat shellfish. However, during the entire period of observation and taking into account historical archives, there has never been an attack by a killer whale on a person in its natural habitat (Paranormal News - paranormal-news.ru).
In captivity, yes. Killer whales sometimes killed and maimed their trainers, most notably one male named Tilikum, who was responsible for killing three people. But even then, these attacks were more likely to be random, and not with the purpose of tasting a person. Imagine being pushed by an animal weighing 8 tons, even a slight push would be fatal to you.
Tilikum at a show at SeaWorld Orlando in 2009
But why killer whales do not attack people in the wild is still a biological mystery.
From the point of view of a large marine predator, a person is a much easier prey than a seal or penguin. It swims slower and is not as agile, and when a person is dressed in a dark wetsuit, its resemblance to seals is even more complete. And in size it is also similar to large seals, although this detail is insignificant; killer whales also attack very large whales.
However, killer whales somehow distinguish between people and seals, and if a diver swims around a pod of killer whales, for which seals are their natural prey, they will not attack him (although they can swim very close and quite scare him). And they not only do not attack, but also allow themselves to be stroked.
Some researchers believe that killer whales do not attack people because of their highly developed intelligence and immediately understand that this is not their usual prey. Killer whales are really very smart. Those who have at least once seen the cunning tactics and strategy they use to hunt seals on ice floes will never call killer whales ordinary animals.
Killer whales hunt for seals. Video in Russian
It is possible that this theory is correct, because “stupid” predators like sharks or crocodiles eat people for their sweet souls and do not worry. But on the other hand, these predators meet people much more often than killer whales. Sharks often swim in shallow waters near crowded beaches, and killer whales often try to stay away from the shore. Also, killer whales mainly live in northern waters. Thus, a person is simply exotic for killer whales, and when they meet, they cannot understand whether they should eat him or not.
However, not everything fits here either. There have been cases of killer whales attacking reindeer as they swam across the water. And, of course, killer whales do not often meet with deer in the water.
In addition, killer whales, like all dolphins, are extremely curious and love to taste even birds that accidentally land on the water, which are also not part of their main prey.
There is another unusual theory according to which killer whales simply... do not like human meat. Once upon a time, a killer whale killed and ate a man and decided that he tasted bad. And then she passed it on to her children, and they passed it on to their children. Killer whales are very family creatures; they swim in large groups of 15-25 individuals, in which all are close relatives to each other.
However, this theory is as fantastic as another version put forward by fans of esoteric practices. In their opinion, killer whales, with a certain telepathic feeling, sense in a person a related creature with developed thinking and they are prohibited from killing him for food or for any other reason by some moral taboo.
However, this taboo does not prevent killer whales from gobbling up no less than smart dolphins. For some groups of killer whales, dolphins are even the main prey.
So for now this mystery remains unanswered.
Footage taken at the San Diego Aquarium in California shows how a killer whale weighing as much as three tons grabbed trainer Ken Peters by the leg and dragged him to the bottom of the pool!
The trainer managed to survive and not choke on water solely thanks to willpower and composure. He stayed in the water for a little over a minute, and then the killer whale jumped to the surface of the water, but was not going to let go of the trainer’s leg.
The drama unfolded over fifteen minutes, attracting the attention of 500 frightened spectators. Now in the water, now above the water, the two fought. As a result, colleagues came running to help Peters and helped him free himself, separating the trainer from the predator with a special net.
The trainer managed to escape with a couple of lacerations and a fright. He says the killer whale likely became nervous due to the crying of her two-year-old calf, which could be heard from a nearby pool.
The video footage presented was used in a lawsuit brought against amusement parks. The lawsuit was filed in 2006 public organization, accusing the parks of putting the health and lives of trainers at risk. And Ken Peters said that he refused to speak with his pupil: this was the third attack on him committed by a killer whale.
Watch this creepy video!
Just like that. Have you been to similar performances? Did anything bad happen? Tell your friends, share your opinions!
When we think of animals that can take our lives in an instant, most likely in order to then eat us, we usually think of lions, sharks or tigers. However, there are animals in the world that are capable of killing a person, which we would never suspect of this, since they are generally considered harmless. Below is a list of such animals, including the man-eating seal, that pose a natural threat to human life.
10. Man-eating seal
The seal is not the first animal that comes to mind when it comes to man-eating animals. However, Antarctica is home to a terrifying marine mammal known as leopard seal. Body length adult reaches 3.7 meters, and weighs more than 450 kilograms. These snake-like leopard seals prowl the coastal waters of Antarctic ice shelves. Leopard seals are distinguished by their ferocious temper, huge fangs and the ability to chase prey at enormous speeds.
During Ernest Shackleton's historic expedition to Antarctica, one of the crew members was attacked on the shore by a huge leopard seal. The man miraculously escaped death, and only because the leopard seal was shot by his comrades. In 2003, a leopard seal grabbed and dragged researcher Kirsty Brown, causing injuries that led to her death - the first fatality after three recorded attacks.
9. Spitting Cobra
African spitting cobras grow up to 3 meters in length and have specifically adapted mouthparts, which allow them to spit venom over distances exceeding 2.5 meters. Snakes aim for the eyes of victims and release venom, which can effectively dissolve the eyes if the person does not receive immediate treatment. health care.
Scientists have determined that spitting cobras react even when they are shown fake faces. They hit the fake face's "eyes" eight out of ten times, releasing a very precise stream of poison with the force of a water pistol. Moreover, the worst thing is that a spitting cobra releases poison so quickly that a person does not have time to react. That is why, if you are planning a trip to the habitats of spitting cobras, do not forget to wear sunglasses.
8. Transiting killer whales
Killer whales are the most ferocious creatures of all marine mammals. They became famous for killing sharks, devouring giant baleen whales and swimming into tidal pools to catch seals. Despite the fact that scientists and marine life enthusiasts often state that “orcas are safe for humans,” there is a danger that a potential threat that is fatal dangerous predators represent to humans are actually underestimated. Transiting killer whales or rogue killer whales prefer to hunt animals and can easily find a replacement for seals, their usual prey.
In 1972, a California surfer needed 100 stitches after being dragged away by a killer whale. More than thirty years later, a 7.6-meter killer whale attacked and mauled a boy from Canada. In another terrible case, a whole group of killer whales took part, which tried, using the movements of their own bodies, to create a huge wave that would “wash” the scientists out of their boat. They use this tactic to catch seals sitting on ice floes. Despite the fact that killer whales have attacked very few people, it is possible that such a small number of incidents can only be explained by the fact that they did not have a suitable opportunity...
7. Wolverine
Wolverines are exactly what nightmares are made of, and their ferocity deserves deep respect. They weigh only fifteen kilograms, look like some kind of small bears, and are not much different in size from a medium-sized dog, however, this lone hunter can take down a moose on his own and even kill a person.
In fact, the wolverine is a member of the mustelid family, however, it has special devices, which allow her to rush forward at high speed and mutilate large prey by piercing the jugular vein, hamstrings, or spine at the base of the skull. Disproportionally large and capable of crushing bone, the teeth can cause serious and, as a rule, damage to the victim. mortal wounds. Wolverines have almost never attacked people, but they most likely do not do this due to the remoteness of their northern habitats from humans. However, there have been several recorded deaths from wolverine bites throughout history, and the injuries they inflict on humans are usually very serious.
6. Killer Coyote
Agile coyotes, whose body is one and a half meters long and weighs 30 kilograms, can run at a speed of 64 kilometers per hour and jump over a distance of four meters. Over the past few decades, a huge number of coyote attacks on people, and especially children, have been recorded.
In a recent attack, a child was killed by a suburban coyote, and in another case, Canadian pop singer Taylor Mitchell was killed and partially eaten by coyotes in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia. Recent injuries sustained in non-death coyote attacks include back injuries, severed ears, scalps, chewed bones, and eye injuries.
5. Great Eagle Owl
The Great Eagle Owl is a magnificent and sometimes ferocious predator endemic to the Americas. Weighing more than 1.8 kilograms and with a wingspan of one and a half meters, the Great Eagle Owl, also known as the “Flying Tiger,” hunts prey three times its size.
The great eagle owl uses its huge claws to hunt skunks and cats, and they have earned this 60cm predator the title of the only bird of prey, which caused fatal injuries to a person during the attack. The attack occurred when the scientist took some eggs from the nest for research, which caused the enraged predator to rush at the man and inflict fatal wounds on him, piercing his skull with its claws. Great eagle owls live from Alaska to Brazil and often occupy crow nests. Climbing into the nests of unfamiliar birds can have deadly consequences...
4. Giant anteater
The giant anteater is a strange mammal, found mainly in grasslands and grasslands, endemic South America. It can grow up to 1.8 meters in length and reach a weight of approximately 70 kilograms. Despite the fact that anteaters look completely ridiculous, and even cute in their own way, you should not hug or approach them.
Anteaters are physically adapted to tearing anthills to shreds, allowing their elephant trunk-like snout to pull out hundreds of ants. If an anteater is afraid of a person or any other animal, it is quite capable of quickly tearing apart an uninvited guest with its powerful paws and knife-sharp claws. In one incident, a sanctuary worker working to help these endangered animals was attacked and subsequently died from his injuries.
3. Irukandji Jellyfish
In some cases, it is not the size, strength or ferocity that makes an animal dangerous to humans, but its ability to hide, which allows it to sneak past us freely, and when we notice it, it is too late. While box jellyfish warnings are a mandatory part of beach placards, it's worth noting that there is another "tiny killer" to watch out for - the Irukandji jellyfish. This transparent and almost invisible creature, whose size is only one cubic centimeter, swims aimlessly through the waves, dragging behind it 60 centimeter tentacles, which contain venom that is a hundred times stronger than the venom of a cobra.
Swimmers who barely touch this invisible creature require emergency hospitalization, and two were reported in Australia in 2002. deaths. The Irukandji jellyfish even swims into UK coastal waters - meaning danger can be present almost anywhere...
2. California sea lion
Those trained fur seals that we often see in circus performances or aquarium shows are actually California sea lions, large marine mammals, which live off the western coast of North America. Clever pinnipeds quickly learn to perform various tricks, but in the wild these 320-kilogram tricksters, whose body length reaches 1.8 meters, can be quite dangerous. Male sea lions are very aggressive and territorial, and there have been cases of them attacking swimmers in the coastal waters of the Pacific Ocean. In this region, there are far more cases of sea lion attacks on humans than cases of shark attacks. In 2004, a sea lion jumped into a fisherman's boat, pulled him off the boat and pulled him into the water - the man miraculously survived. The name “sea lion” was clearly given to him for a reason...
1. Asian carp
Asian carp are wild and fairly large relatives of the goldfish, reaching a weight of 45 kilograms and a length of more than 1.2 meters. These fish are endemic to Asian rivers and the fact that they were brought to North America, turned out to be a big mistake: they flooded waterways and lakes in huge quantities.
Since the areas in which these fish live usually coincide with areas reserved for human recreation on the water, the fish's habit of jumping high out of the water poses a deadly threat. There have been many cases of motorboat drivers suffering serious head and body injuries due to huge carp jumping out of the water and hitting them. Injuries included broken bones, back injuries and black eyes. Government departments in the US and Canada have called for action to reduce the population of these killer carp before it becomes fatal...