Amazing Video Captures This Orca Whale’s Awesome Size and Precision Up Close and Personal!

Written by Sharon Parry
Updated: October 21, 2023
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To be this close to such a magnificent ocean creature is a real privilege and we are lucky to be able to share it. As the video at the bottom of this page shows, despite their size orcas can also be very precise when it comes to bagging a fish meal near a boat!

Watch the Amazing Footage Below

What Exactly Are Orcas?

killer whales swimming side by side

Orcas are found in oceans all over the world

©slowmotiongli/Shutterstock.com

This creature that looks a bit like a shark and is referred to as a killer whale is a member of the dolphin family! They are the largest members of the Delphinidae family. And they are very large – a large male can reach 15,000 pounds.

These guys are very widely distributed and are found in oceans all over the world. They can be recognized by their black and white coloring but orcas in different parts of the world have different patterning.

Why Are Orcas Called Killer Whales?

Killer Whale (Orcinus orca) breaching.

Orca, or Killer Whale (Orcinus orca), Latin name means ‘of the kingdom of the dead’.

©Tory Kallman/Shutterstock.com

This term causes some confusion so how did it come about? Firstly, dolphins and whales are related so it is not too wide of the mark but that is not where it came from. The name was first used by ancient sailors who witnessed orca preying on large whale species. The sailors started calling them ‘asesina ballenas’ which means ‘whale killer’. Eventually, this was flipped around to make them ‘killer whales’.

Their Latin name, Orcinus orca, is also interesting. Orcinus means ‘of the kingdom of the dead,’ and orca refers to a kind of whale.

Are Orca Populations Under Threat?

Whale pod breaches

Orcas face numerous threats like ocean pollution and boat collisions.

©Tory Kallman/Shutterstock.com

According to the IUCN Redlist, there is currently insufficient data to declare whether the orca is endangered or not. It can be very challenging to accurately assess the numbers of ocean-living creatures.

Nevertheless, orcas face several threats. We know that they can and do get caught in fishing gear and fishing nets. They are also challenged by toxic waste and general pollution entering the sea. These animals can be injured or killed in collisions with boats and can be disturbed by the noise pollution emitted by motorized boats and other craft on the sea. In some regions, they are still hunted for meat or aquariums. We need to do all we can to protect these unique creatures.

The photo featured at the top of this post is © Guillermo El Oso/Shutterstock.com


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About the Author

Dr Sharon Parry is a writer at A-Z animals where her primary focus is on dogs, animal behavior, and research. Sharon holds a PhD from Leeds University, UK which she earned in 1998 and has been working as a science writer for the last 15 years. A resident of Wales, UK, Sharon loves taking care of her spaniel named Dexter and hiking around coastlines and mountains.

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