Killer Movie Hindi Dubbed
Eugene Hill
Hunters and fishermen once targeted killer whales. As a result, historical threats to killer whales included commercial hunting and culling to protect fisheries from killer whales. In addition, although live capture of killer whales for aquarium display and marine parks no longer occurs in the United States, it continues to remain a threat globally. Today, some killer whale populations face many other threats, including food limitations, chemical contaminants, and disturbances from vessel traffic and sound. Efforts to establish critical habitat, set protective regulations, and restore prey stocks are essential to conservation, especially for the endangered Southern Resident killer whale population.
Southern Resident killer whales are the only endangered population of killer whales in the United States, ranging from central California to southeast Alaska. Long-term commitments across state and international borders are needed to stabilize the Southern Resident population and prevent their extinction. The Southern Resident killer whale is one of NOAA Fisheries' Species in the Spotlight. This initiative includes animals considered most at risk for extinction and prioritizes recovery efforts.
NOAA Fisheries is committed to the conservation of killer whales and the protection and recovery of endangered populations. Our scientists and partners use a variety of innovative techniques to study and protect them. We also work with our partners to develop regulations and management plans that protect killer whales and their food sources, decrease contaminants in oceans, reduce ocean noise, and raise awareness about the whales and the actions people can take to support their recovery.
In recent decades, several populations of killer whales have declined and some have become endangered. The population of AT1 Transients, a stock of Transient killer whales in the eastern North Pacific, has been reduced from 22 to 7 whales since the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill. In 2004, NOAA Fisheries designated this stock as depleted under the MMPA based on the results of the status review (PDF, 25 pages).
Scientists estimate the minimum historical population size of Southern Residents in the eastern North Pacific was about 140 animals. Following live-capture in the 1960s for use in marine mammal parks, 71 animals remained in 1974. Although there was some growth in the population in the 1970s and 1980s, with a peak of 98 animals in 1995, the population experienced a decline of almost 20 percent in the late 1990s, leaving 80 whales in 2001. The 2020 population census counted only 72 whales, and three new calves have been born following the census bringing the total of this struggling population to 75. In 2003, NOAA Fisheries began a research and conservation program with congressional funding to address the dwindling population. Southern Residents were listed as Endangered in 2005 under the ESA and a recovery plan was completed in 2008.
Killer whales are mostly black on top with white undersides and white patches near the eyes. They also have a gray or white saddle patch behind the dorsal fin. These markings vary widely between individuals and populations. Adult males develop disproportionately larger pectoral flippers, dorsal fins, tail flukes, and girths than females.
Killer whales are highly social, and most live in social groups called pods (groups of maternally related individuals seen together more than half the time). Individual whales tend to stay in their natal pods. Pods typically consist of a few to 20 or more animals, and larger groups sometimes form for temporary social interactions, mating, or seasonal concentrations of prey.
Killer whales rely on underwater sound to feed, communicate, and navigate. Pod members communicate with each other through clicks, whistles, and pulsed calls. Each pod in the eastern North Pacific possesses a unique set of calls that are learned and culturally transmitted among individuals. These calls maintain group cohesion and serve as family badges.
Females reach sexual maturity when they are between 10 and 13 years old. They are typically pregnant for 15 to 18 months and give birth to a single calf. Calves nurse exclusively for at least a year, but remain in close association with their mother for the first two years. There is no distinct calving season, so birth can take place in any month. The birth rate for killer whales is not well understood. In some populations, birth rate is estimated at every 5 years for an average period of 25 years. Killer whales, beluga whales, narwhals, short-finned pilot whales, and humans are the only known species that go through menopause.
Overfishing and habitat loss have decreased the amount of prey available to some killer whales. Without enough prey, killer whales might experience decreased reproductive rates and increased mortality rates. This threat is especially important for Southern Resident killer whales because some populations of their preferred prey, Chinook salmon, are also threatened or endangered.
Despite modern pollution controls, chemical contamination through the food web continues to threaten killer whales. These controls have reduced, but not eliminated, many contaminants in the environment. Additionally, some of these contaminants persist in the marine environment for decades and continue to threaten marine life.
All killer whales are protected under the MMPA and the Southern Resident population is listed as an endangered species under the ESA. We have focused our conservation efforts to help rebuild endangered and depleted populations on the West Coast and Alaska. Targeted management actions taken to secure protections for these whales and their habitat include:
The Whale Trail includes many land-based observation sites where you can view and learn about killer whales and other marine mammals. Sites are available in British Columbia, Washington, Oregon, and California.
There are three main types of killer whales in the North Pacific: Resident, Transient, and Offshore. Each ecotype differs in appearance, diet, habitat, genetics, and behavior. While all three types share at least part of their habitats, they are not known to interbreed with each other.
Resident killer whales have rounded dorsal fins and a wide variety of saddle patch markings (the white patch behind their dorsal fins). They range from California to Russia and live in large groups. Four populations of Resident killer whales occur in the Pacific Northwest:
Offshore killer whales have rounded dorsal fins, a variety of saddle patch patterns, and are generally smaller than the other types of killer whales. They are seen in large groups and have the largest range that can occur up to 9 miles offshore. Offshore killer whales eat fish, including sharks.
In addition to the three ecotypes, distinct populations of killer whales exist throughout the world. Populations are smaller groups within each type of killer whale. For example, there are four different populations of Resident killer whales. Each population has its own unique diet, behaviors, social structure, and habitat.
Outside of the North Pacific, other populations of killer whales also have specialized diets. Off the coast of Norway, killer whales feed mainly on herring and other schooling fish. In waters off New Zealand, some killer whales eat stingrays and sharks. In Antarctic waters, killer whales eat minke whales, seals, or Antarctic toothfish. In contrast to killer whales in the North Pacific where specialized diets are characteristic of different ecotypes, killer whales in the Northeast Atlantic are believed to eat both herring and seals.
Killer whales are highly social and individual whales tend to stay in their original pods. Pods typically consist of two to 15 animals, but larger groups sometimes form for temporary social interaction, mating, or seasonal availability of food. Pods differ in size due to behavioral differences, the availability of food, and the number of whales living in a given area.
Pod members communicate with each other through underwater sounds such as clicks, whistles, and pulsed calls. Each pod in the Pacific Northwest possesses a unique set of sounds that are learned and culturally transmitted among individuals. These sounds help keep groups together and serve as family badges.
The Southern Resident killer whales are one of NOAA Fisheries' Species in the Spotlight. This initiative is a concerted agency-wide effort launched in 2015 to spotlight and save the most highly at-risk marine species.
The endangered Southern Residents are an icon of the Pacific Northwest and inspire widespread public interest, curiosity, and awe around the globe. Southern Residents face depleted prey, disturbance from vessels and sound, and show high levels of contaminants from pollutants.
In 2003, NOAA Fisheries began a research and conservation program with congressional funding. This research program is ongoing and has contributed to knowledge of factors affecting the health and recovery of the Southern Resident killer whales. In 2005, the Southern Residents were listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act and a recovery plan was completed in 2008.
The population continues to struggle and has declined over 10 percent since 2005. The summer population census for 2020 counted only 72 Southern Resident killer whales with several new calves born since the census. We have come a long way in our understanding and ability to protect this unique population, and in 2014 we summarized a decade of research and conservation activities in a special report.
During the spring, summer, and fall, the range of Southern Resident killer whales includes the coastal and inland waterways of Washington State and the transboundary waters between the United States and Canada. We have been learning more about their winter movements and range through dedicated and collaborative research efforts. They have been spotted as far south as central California during the winter months and as far north as Southeast Alaska. In recent years, we have increased our knowledge about their coastal habitat use through passive acoustic monitoring and the collection of new sightings.
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