Watch This Majestic Orca Leave a Group of Whale Watchers Speechless

Check out this young orca who is having the time of its life showing off its moves to a group of admiring tourists. They are so impressed that they are left speechless. It is purposely swimming close to the boat and is dipping in and out of the water showing off just how agile it can be.

Orcas are also called killer whales and are the largest member of the dolphin family. The similarities in body shape and personality are quite striking!

See below to watch the full adorable video of this character from the ocean!

Watch the Adorable Footage Below

Are Orcas Actually Killer Whales?

They are not whales at all! The common name for an orca may be a killer whale but they are not members of the whale family. They are members of the Delphinidae family and are easily recognizable from the black and white markings. They are large animals, can weigh up to 15,000 pounds, and live for up to 50 years.

It is thought that they were given their name hundreds of years ago by sailors who saw them eating whale carcasses. The sailors assumed correctly that they had killed the whales. The name whale killers got switched around and became killer whales which has led to some confusion.

However, it is true that orcas are killers. They are predators and very efficient hunters. They need around 300 pounds of meat a day to keep them healthy.

Are Orcas Friendly to Humans?

There are no reports of orcas in the wild going out of their way to attack humans. In fact, the opposite seems to be true. They are fascinated by human boats and will also often swim alongside them giving displays of their agility in the water. There are also some reports of orcas coming to the rescue of humans who have got into difficulty in the water. However, it is important to remember that these are large and wild animals and we should always show them respect.

There are some reports of captive orcas attacking humans but the stress of captivity will probably have changed their behavior. There is also a question over whether it is ethical to keep these magnificent wild creatures in captivity in the first place.

It’s obvious from this video how wonderful it is to view them in their natural environment behaving in a natural way.

Is it Normal Behavior for Orcas to Interact with Humans?

Orcas, or killer whales, are very curious, playful, and social animals, and although they may not generally encounter humans or interact with them that often when they do, they are known to bring their playful and curious traits with them. There are instances of killer whales interacting with surfers, swimmers, and kayakers and they have even been known to protect them. In one such instance, a pod of orcas came to the aid of a diver and helped him escape a shark attack.

Not all interactions are positive, however. It seems their curiosity can be harmful if you are a sailboat. They aren’t intending to target humans, but they happen to be on the object of their interest – sailboats. There are numerous instances off the coast of Spain, in the Strait of Gibraltar where a group of orcas have either sunk or damaged these vessels by attacking the rudders and then ramming the boats.

How Big Do Killer Whales Get?

Adult male orcas are typically larger than females of the species, weighing almost double. The largest killer whales ever recorded were a male who weighed 22,000 pounds and had a length of 32 feet and a female who weighed 16,500 pounds and had a length of 28 feet. Killer whale sizes vary by species or ecotype, but the length that a Northern killer whale may grow to is 27 feet for a male and 23 feet for a female.