ORCAS Attacking Migrating Whales...

Newcastle Herald wrote:
CARRYING extensive scars from a fight with a pod of killer whales and other injuries possibly from being tangled in rope, this juvenile humpback whale was forced to take refuge in Newcastle Harbour yesterday.

Whale experts said the mammal was first seen off the coast of Port Macquarie on Friday.

Bearing several large lesions on its tail and killer whale teeth marks across its body, the humpback, quickly nicknamed Nobby, drifted into Newcastle Harbour about 11am yesterday  where it was spotted by the Stockton Ferry crew and a Moonshadow Cruises tour.

The whale stayed for about 30 minutes and then headed back to sea. Estimated to be eight metres long and about two years old, the whale was described by experts as ‘‘emaciated’’ and ‘‘badly injured’’.

Read more @   http://www.theherald.com.au/story/2423000/hurt-young-whale-in-sore-need-of-help/?cs=305

    SOME misguided people in this world still try to glorify Killer Whales, trying to paint them as peaceful, super intelligent, somehow mystical, noble denizens of the oceans. Simply going about their business without harming their neighbours, while their human supporters willfully ignore the fact that Orcas earnt that name 'Killer Whales' for good reasons..  ( Anthropomorphism ).

Even if they are dolphins, in disguise !
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Killer_Whale

AND, like most other species of dolphins and porpoises - not only do they constantly kill to eat - but, they also regularly harass, chase, torture, molest and rape both other species and members of their own groups !    

I'd heard that about dolphins before. Some of them can be nice, but there are some that will do the sort of horrible things that we tend to think of as only being done by H. Sapiens.

But it's only a few

 
   IT'S usually "sub-pods" of young single "teenagers" among certain popular dolphin species (such as the common "bottle-nosed" variety) that can be more cruel and out there with their group behaviour ~ especially where they may be "led astray" by certain bully boy individuals...

Apparently they settle down a bit once they have paired up with a mate; though as with many different species there's also always the possibility of older "rogue" individuals that may have lost their mate, or been seperated or chased away from the pod for some reason.

HOWEVER, it should also be noted that Killer Whales are a lot more cruel and savage than their smaller cousins ~ as seen in the eating and hunting habits of those in this story. After all, killing other animals is how Orcas making their living..

JUST a pity that some develop such a cruel streak, and make a game or 'sport' out of it (just like some people !). Some people's misguided approaches to idolising Orcas can be seen as another example of "Bambi syndrome", thanks to movies such as the abominable 'Free Willy'.

You are right that Orcas are dolphins--the largest of the dolphin genus Orcaella, which includes pilot whales and false killer whales.  The original Eskimo name for them was 'killer of whales' as, of course, that's what they do.  The white man perverted that into Killer Whale.

I think that they are very much like grey wolves, that you admire Bee.  They are carnivorous hunters, that use the pack technique to capture prey.  They hunt by sounding deeply underwater, and using that space, come up with considerable force and bludgeon whale calves to death.  One of their favorite hunting spots is in the Monterey Bay Canyon, just south of here by 40-50 miles, which is one of the deepest canyons on earth (much greater than the Grand Canyon).

The juveniles (teenagers) of the species get a bad rap because they must practice before they can join the big dogs' pack.  First, the adults take them out into the Bay to teach them; but second, then they go off and practice together, before they are permitted to join adult hunting packs.  These practice runs appear to be pointless killings, cruel and unnecessary.

Their mating habits appear to be quite cruel as well.  It often looks like a gang-rape situation.  Yet, pups are born and life goes on.