Page 84 - fish-on-magazine-2025

studied, but they are assumed to follow general orca stood Atlantic orcas is still a mystery. It is possible In recent years, scientists have increased efforts to Citizen science platforms and social media have

mating behavior. In general, killer whales become that long-range migrations and brief inter-pod in- understand Atlantic killer whale populations. These also played a significant role in documenting orca
sexually mature between 10 and 15 years of age. Fe- teractions during periods of high food availability efforts include: appearances. Platforms like WhaleMap and Atlantic

males typically give birth every 3 to 10 years and provide opportunities for mating. White Shark Conservancy have encouraged mari-

may have 4 to 6 calves over their lifetime. Gestation • Photo-identification of individuals like Old Thom ners to report sightings in real time, offering scien-
lasts about 17 months, and calves are usually born Observing breeding behavior in wild orcas is rare, • Acoustic monitoring to capture calls and tists new data points to analyze.

tail-first to prevent drowning. particularly for Atlantic populations. No known calv- echolocation patterns

ing grounds have been identified off the East Coast, • Satellite tagging to track movement and migration Killer whales on the East Coast of the United States
Mating usually occurs outside of the animal’s natal but that does not rule out the possibility that or- • Collaboration with fishermen and whale watchers remain one of the most enigmatic marine predators

pod to avoid inbreeding, though how this is man- cas use these waters for mating or even giving birth to report sightings in the Atlantic Ocean. With no established resident
aged among widely dispersed and poorly under- during their extensive travels. population, their appearances are rare and often

82 F IS H ON! - OCEAN CITY F IS H ON! - OCEAN CITY 83