Orcas have a reputation for being aggressive, but when it comes to humans they don't seem to have an appetite
We all keep reading and seeing these vicious creatures and monsters in the sea how they have no mercy when they encounter another species in the water. However, is that impression based on facts or is it just another trick our mind is playing on us? Media has the power to influence the thinking and the behaviour of the masses and that’s probably why people think that orcas are vicious human-eating creatures.
Orca Attacks
Apparently, throughout the history, there have been several attacks orcas performed in the wild. However, none of them resulted in human death. Still, because orcas are known as killer whales because they’re near the top, if not on top of the seafood chain, these remarkable creatures have a bad reputation among humans. This video goes to show that the infamous orcas aren’t vicious animals nor predators as people often present them. Yes, they consume other mammals, including other massive whales but there haven’t been any reports whatsoever of an orca hurting or eating a human.
Orcas are known to be different from sharks in many aspects. The first and one of the most probable reasons why orcas don’t eat people is that, most often, they don’t swim in the near-shore areas. Secondly, unless they feel threatened, humans don’t belong to their supply chain. Finally, orcas are generally friendly and playful creatures like other whales, but there must be a clear distinction between free and captivated whales.
Difference Between Captivated and Free Whales
While there haven’t been many incidents with whales in the open sea, the case is slightly different with the ones kept in aquariums and similar water parks. A captivated whale is more likely to attack a human being than the whale swimming in the wild for several reasons. First, captivated whales have a severely changed life routine, and apparently, they’re not happy living in an aquarium. Next, we’ll point out to the fact that statistically, there’s a higher chance of a whale hurting a human when in captivation because the contact between the two species is more frequent. Finally, wrongful treatment of these species buy trainers, visitors, and other people who are in contact with these animals may lead to unwanted events. Orcas will usually feel threatened and consequently may harm people the way it happened several times throughout history.
Do They Eat People?
The short answer would be no. In fact, none of the cetaceans (whales dolphins and porpoises) feast on human flesh. Although they seem terrifying, this fact explains a lot of things, including the one we see on the video. Even when they swim near the shore and have a close encounter with two boys, the so-called killer whales will swim past them.
Final Thoughts
Taking everything into consideration, it’s no wonder that there’s a lot of material for people making infographics saying that the biggest threat to the humankind are the people themselves. As far as orcas are concerned, there’s not much to worry about since this video showcases how the killer whales seem to have little interest in adding people to their menu. In fact, it’s now evident that orcas are friendly and playful mammals that should be kept in the wild where they belong.