The Whispering Giants: How Whales Avoid Killer Whale Predation
In the vast depths of the ocean, the struggle for survival takes on many forms, even among the largest creatures on Earth. Recent research has shed light on an intriguing aspect of whale behavior: the use of sound as a stealthy method of avoiding predation by killer whales. This study categorizes different whale species into two distinct groups—those that choose to fight and those that prefer to flee.
The fight group includes species such as North Atlantic right whales, bowhead whales, humpbacks, and grey whales. These whales tend to be slower-moving and often give birth in shallow waters, where they can defend their calves against the formidable killer whales. In contrast, the flight group, which includes blue, fin, sei, minke, and Bryde’s whales, opts for a different strategy. These whales are faster and typically have their young in the open ocean, where they can quickly escape from approaching orcas.