Ayurnamat

orcas are technically dolphins, but are often called "killer whales" bc of their size & bc theyre often called "killer whales". technically all dolphins could be called whales in a very loose & broad way, as theyre in the "toothed whale group", but theyre still technically dolphins

& this does come off very condescending because it’s also just. Wrong. You contradict yourself by admitting that Dolphins are part of the toothed whale category.

Sharks are still apex predators with powerful bodies and sharp teeth. Even though we know they're not mindless or violent like we thought, that absolutely doesn't take away their status as an animal we should all remain cautious around. The same absolutely goes for orcas.

A misunderstanding of some information about orcas that bothers me is that there have been no fatalities in the wild. There have been at least 70 instances of orcas and humans interacting in a way that resulted in injury with one possible case of a human dying, although it wasn't confirmed.

While I do feel as if walking back their former reputation as animals to be feared is a net positive, regarding them as though they are utterly harmless and even assuming the name of their species is misrepresentative can also cause harm. For one, it can cause people to assume that they're completely safe around orcas and that they don't need to feel cautious. They may even feel as if they can touch the animal or attempt to form a bond with it. (You don't need me to tell you why that's bad.)

The reality is that while these animals do not seem interested in human contact of any kind (including hunting or harming humans), they are still appropriately named for their variety of hunting strategies and penchant to hunt just about anything in the sea with calculated viciousness. "Killer Whale" comes from "Whale Killer" because orcas do in fact drown and consume other cetaceans.

Orca coming from "Orcus", God of the Underworld, is also fitting. In a way, they kind of are gods of their own food chain, metaphorically speaking. They are strong, fast, organized, and clever.

It is true that they are not only violent, that orcas can also be deeply emotional and social with one another - but the reality is that they are wild animals that need to be treated with respect and decency.

Most of all, they need to be left alone. We are not from their world, we should not invade theirs.

There is much to be said about that “former reputation” & the European/Christian-centered outlook on the natural world & animals in it however. The colonizer view is the one largely pushed onto everyone else when not every culture around the world agrees with it.

But you guys don’t really get to destroy an animal’s reputation & then “rebuild it” through exploitation via theme parks (& subsequent protests) & then hop on a soap box about it.

What white nonsense is this

— Mod Tilikum 🌺

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Procaps get pissed when anticaps say captive orcas are bored or depressed or whatever, but then pull this shit.

Read these, yes. But then read books that were not written as treatises on racism. Seek out Black art not only because it can teach you something about race but because Black people are simply doing extraordinary work.

Read Morrison as much for her prose and her mastery of pacing as for her politics. Read Ross Gay’s Book of Delights, an ode to little wonders and a reminder to look at the world with gratitude. Read Elizabeth Alexander’s stunning testament to grief and marriage, The Light of the World, and note the innovations in form as she mixes memoir with poetry and recipes, a collage meant to mirror her late husband’s paintings. Read NK Jemisin’s The Fifth Season and marvel at the worlds she builds.

WHITE PEOPLE PLEASE READ

YOU NEED TO REPEAT THIS TO YOURSELF EVERYDAY FOR THE REST OF OUR LIVES UNTIL RACISM IS DESTROYED

ASIANS, LATINX/HISPANICS, AND OTHER NON-WHITES ARE ENCOURAGED TO REBLOG AS WELL

The Center for Whale Research announces the death of Ken Balcomb. 

Hi hi! I'm good! Your best bet for reliable information is looking for non-biased sources, regardless of your stance on one subject or another. Information on killer whales can be especially focused on pro- versus anti-captivity. For example, SeaWorld of Hurt is run by PETA, so much of their content will be skewed towards exposing and ending orca captivity. On the other hand, SeaWorld itself has attempted to skew information in the opposite direction, for obvious reasons. Governments sites like NOAA Fisheries have general information for dipping your toes into, mostly regarding wild cetaceans. The Center for Whale Research is also a good for learning about the Southern Resident Killer Whales, though they also have encounters and information about Bigg's Killer Whales.

The biggest thing I can stress to you when you want to learn about killer whales is doing your own research rather than relying on word of others. Plenty of people make misinformed comments, and plenty more people fail to fact check them. I used to fall victim to this plenty of times back when my interest first started! Just remember it's okay to admit you can be wrong, and always be open to new information.

I hope this helps! We love having more people in the orca and/or cetacean community! If anyone has anymore advice or good sources, feel free to reply/reblog! <3