Killer whale - Orcinus orca
Desricption:
Killer Whale, the largest of the dolphin family, which probably has a larger range of world coverage than any other cetacean.Killer whales occur in all oceans, on the high sea, and close to shore. However, they are more common in the colder (more productive) waters of both hemispheres than in the tropics.
Killer whales are mainly black or deep brown, with striking white patches from lower jaw to belly, above the eye, and a fainter grey-white saddle patch just under and behind the dorsal fin. They are sexually dimorphic in size, with females reaching 8.5 m (27.5 ft) and males to 9.8 m (31.9 ft) as fully grown adults.
All killer whales have a large prominent dorsal fin midback, but that of the adult male continues to grow, until it is a triangular "sail" up to 1.8 m (5.9 ft) tall. The flippers are also distinctive; they are large and oval, and are unlike those of any other toothed whale.
Killer whales feed on fish, squid, marine birds including penguins, pinnipeds, and cetaceans. They have even been seen taking down a blue whale, a member of the largest species on earth. In most areas, killer whales appear to specialize; in the Pacific north-west of the United States and Canada, for example, resident populations feed mainly on salmon and other nearshore fishes while more transient populations take especially harbour seals and porpoises.
Killer whales occur in group sizes of lone animals to well over 50. They tend to cooperate during hunting, especially when feeding on warm-blooded animals such as penguins, pinnipeds, and cetaceans.
In several places in the southern hemisphere they habitually beach themselves briefly as they rush on to shore to take seals or sea lions in the turbulent surf zone. Residents may cover a several hundred square kilometre area; while transients often rapidly transect an area, moving well over 1,000 km (600 mi) along a shoreline in a matter of days.
Environment:
Killer whales occur in all oceans, on the high sea, and close to shore. However, they are more common in the colder (more productive) waters of both hemispheres than in the tropics.Food:
Killer whales feed on fish, squid, marine birds including penguins, pinnipeds, and cetaceans.Problem:
Killer whales get caught for entertainment in marine parks. And sadly, most die withintheir first year in a tank, some even die within days!
They try to breed these whales, but even the little ones that are born can't even survive
at least more than a week. So, after so many whales die, the park catch even more
whales from their ocean once again.
Also, fishermen harpoon these whales when they get the chance. Because the
fishermen think, killing more whales, means that there will be more fish for them to
catch.
Solution:
If fishermen stop killing whales and marine parks stop catching them from the ocean.Killer whales will successfully breed in the ocean and be happy :)
Who's stupid idea of putting a WHALE into a small cement tank anyway???
Information provided by: http://members.optusnet.com.au.