killer whale PHotos |
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Killer Whale Pictures - The Largest Dolphin - A popular exhibit in controversial theme park captivity |
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Killer Whales, also known as Orca, Orcinus orca, are found in all oceans. Females become mature around 15 years old, and produce an average of one calf every five years. Calf mortality is high, those that survive nurse for up to two years. All members of the pod share in the care of the young. They will breed until they are about 40 years old, and the typical lifespan is around 50, but can survive past 70 in exceptional cases. The lifespan of captive killer whales is much less, rarely up to 25 years.
Although the killer whale as a whole is not an endangered species, some local populations are considered threatened or endangered due to depletion of prey species and habitat loss, pollution by PCBs, captures for marine mammal parks, and conflicts with vessels. In late 2007, the northeastern Pacific killer whales community was placed on the Endangered Species list, having lost 48 animals to captive use.
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Picture of a killer whale, orca, Orcinus orca, making a dramatic leap, British Columbia, Canada, Pacific Ocean
Picture #: 010537 |
Stock photo of a humpback whale, peduncle throw, Megaptera novaeangliae, Hawaii, scars on fluke from teeth of a killer whale, orca, Orcinus orca
NMFS research permit #882
Picture #: 002630 |
Image of a killer whale, orca, Orcinus orca, stranded, New Zealand, Pacific Ocean
Picture #: 011421 |
Photo of a killer whale, orca, Orcinus orca, attacking a South American sea lion, Otaria flavescens, Argentina
Picture #: 008244 |
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Picture of a killer whale, orca, Orcinus orca, male surfacing at sunset, San Juan Islands, Washington, Pacific Ocean
Picture #: 001794 |
Stock photo of Keiko the Free Willy killer whale, orca, Orcinus orca
Picture #: 012265 |
Image of a killer whale, orca, Orcinus orca, lunging, British Columbia, Canada, Pacific Ocean
Picture #: 008236 |
Photo of a killer whale, orca, Orcinus orca, breaching, San Juan Islands, Washington, Pacific Ocean
Picture #: 002563 |
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Picture of a killer whale, orca, Orcinus orca, spyhopping, Norway, North Atlantic Ocean
Picture #: 008251 |
Stock photo of killer whales, orca, Orcinus orca, at sunset Norway, North Atlantic Ocean
Picture #: 008250 |
Image of a killer whale, orca, Orcinus orca, surfacing, Pribilof Islands, Bering Sea, Alaska, Pacific Ocean
Picture #: 008260 |
Photo of a killer whale, orca, Orcinus orca, showing mammary, genital, anal slits Boundary Pass, U.S.A./ Canada border, Pacific Ocean
Picture #: 001796 |
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Picture of a killer whale pod, orca, Orcinus orca, surfing in wake, Auckland, New Zealand
Picture #: 002822 |
Stock photo of a killer whale, orca, Orcinus orca, breaching, San Juan Islands, Washington, Pacific Ocean
Picture #: 009066 |
Image of two killer whales, orca, Orcinus orca, spyhopping, Johnstone Strait, British Columbia, Canada, Pacific Ocean
Picture #: 008302 |
Photo of a killer whale, orca, Orcinus orca, adult female breaching, Stuart Island, San Juan Islands, Washington State, Pacific Ocean
Picture #: 008288 |
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Picture of a killer whale, orca, Orcinus orca, breaching, San Juan Islands, Washington, Pacific Ocean
Picture #: 011249 |
Stock photo of Keiko, male captive killer whale, orca, Orcinus orca. Note drooping dorsal fin, very uncommon in wild orcas, Oregon Coast Aquarium
Picture #: 011406 |
Image of a petroglyph of a killer whale, orca, Orcinus orca, and human faces, south of Makah Indian settlement of Ozette, Olympic Coastline, Washington, Pacific Ocean
Picture #: 011407 |
Photo of killer whales, orca, Orcinus orca, spyhopping in pack ice, Ross Sea, Antarctica
Picture #: 009266 |
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