Communication in Killer Whales

It would be easy to think that those black and white whales (often called orcas) act in a manner similar to their appearance. That is, pretty much the same. They are actually distinct, and their groups (clans or pods) are different from one another.

Credit: Holly Fearnbach / Alaska Fisheries Science Center / NOAA Fisheries Service
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Let's rein in for a moment and clear up a couple of things. First, they are more closely related to dolphins than whales. Second, despite a silly movie from 1977, orcas are not known to have eaten humans. Third, don't let the cute and cuddly critters doing tricks at sea amusements fool you; they are killers because these sidewinders of the sea are devious. Orcas are also fierce, eating things larger than humans, and smaller, and whatever is convenient. A large part of their hunting prowess comes from their communication abilities, and that one group cannot understand another group's sounds. Yep, they have their own lingo because they were built that way. Orca communication is yet another item that can be explained by special creation, but leaves evolutionists are at a loss.

The captain of the fishing vessel Oracle knew he was in trouble when he sighted orcas on the horizon. He was right. In a coordinated attack, dozens of the huge mammals made off with 12,000 pounds of halibut on his lines and cost him 4,000 gallons of fuel trying to save the rest of his day’s catch from the interlopers. They even seemed to be teaching their young how to get a free meal. On another day, 50 orcas followed his boat for 65 miles and then loitered for 18 hours after he shut the engines down. After waiting two days, he had to abandon that fishing trip altogether.

To read the rest (or download the audio by my favorite reader), click on "Killer Communicators".