Orca

The orca is a big, powerful ocean animal with shiny black-and-white skin. It is sometimes called the killer whale, but that old name can sound scarier than the animal really is. An orca is a clever hunter of the sea, and it is actually the largest member of the dolphin family.

Orcas live in close family groups called pods. The young often stay near their mothers for many years. Each pod makes its own special clicks, whistles, and calls, which the orcas learn from one another. These sounds work a little like a family name, telling everyone who belongs together.

Orcas are strong hunters that work as a team. Different families like to eat different foods: some pods catch fish like salmon, while others hunt seals or even other whales. By swimming and planning together, a pod can find and catch food that one orca could not catch alone.

Orcas are found in oceans all around the world, from icy seas near the poles to warmer waters. They can live for a very long time. Female orcas often live even longer than the males, and grandmother orcas help look after the young in the pod.

Scientists still have a lot to learn about orcas, so no one knows exactly how many there are in all the world's oceans. Because the count is uncertain, the orca is listed as "data deficient", which simply means we need more information before we can say how it is doing.