New research has uncovered the genetic connections of the legendary killer whale, Old Tom, to modern New Zealand killer whales, suggesting the local extinction of his kind. The study also decolonizes the history of Eden’s whaling, emphasizing the historic bond between Indigenous Australians and killer whales

Scientists have recently discovered the genetic ties of the well-known killer whale, Old Tom, to contemporary orcas in New Zealand. This discovery suggests that Old Tom’s kind may have gone extinct locally. 

Old Tom was the leader of a pod of killer whales that had an unusually close relationship with people. He was renowned for his intelligence and playful nature, and he often interacted with boats and swimmers. Old Tom died in 2017 at the age of 59. 

The new research was conducted by scientists at the University of Auckland, who analyzed DNA samples from Old Tom and other killer whales. They found that Old Tom’s DNA is most similar to that of modern-day orcas in New Zealand. However, they also found that Old Tom’s DNA is different from that of any other known killer whale population. 

The scientists believe that this difference in DNA suggests that Old Tom’s kind may have gone extinct locally. They say that this could have been caused by a number of factors, including hunting, habitat loss, and climate change. 

The extinction of Old Tom’s kind would be a significant loss for the marine ecosystem. Killer whales are apex predators, and they play an important role in keeping populations of other marine animals in check.

Killer whales are endangered due to a number of factors, including: 

• Habitat loss 
• Overfishing 
• Chemical and noise pollution 
• Hunting 
• Inbreeding 
• Contaminants 
• Disturbance 
• Capture for marine mammal parks 
• Conflicts with human fisheries 

The Southern Resident killer whale population was declared endangered in 2005.  The population has been decreasing due to a decline in their main prey, Chinook salmon. This decline is caused by overfishing, habitat destruction, and large dams.  The Endangered Species Coalition estimates that the Southern Resident Orcas could become extinct within 15 years. 

There are an estimated 50,000 killer whales left globally. About 2,500 killer whales live in the eastern North Pacific Ocean.

Killer whales, also known as orcas, are highly social animals. They live in family groups called pods, which typically consist of 2–15 whales. Killer whales are known for their strong family bonds, curiosity, and playful demeanor. They are also protective, loving, and communicative

Killer whales spend their days: 

Foraging, Traveling, Resting, Socializing, Breaching, Tail-slapping. 

Killer whales are also known for their hunting behavior. They work together to herd fish into a tight area so they can eat them more easily. 

Some other behaviors of killer whales include: Chasing, Circling, Changing direction, Feeding. 

Killer whales are also known to be gentle when interacting with humans in the wild

Orcas hunt varied prey including fish, cephalopods, mammals, seabirds, and sea turtles. Different populations or ecotypes may specialize, and some can have a dramatic impact on prey species. However, whales in tropical areas appear to have more generalized diets due to lower food productivity

Killer whales eat: 

Fish, Squid, Seals, Sea birds, Whales, Cephalopods, Sea turtles. 

Some populations of killer whales, like those in Puget Sound, have specialized diets. For example, they may eat fatty fish like salmon or herring. 

Killer whales are also known to help humans who are in danger. For example, a group of orcas once helped a diver escape from a shark attack

Orcas are unlikely to attack humans because they are intelligent, social animals that don’t usually view humans as prey. They are also fussy eaters and only eat what they’ve learned to eat

There have been no recorded orca killings of humans in the wild. However, there have been several attacks on humans in captivity in the past 50 years, with at least four of these being fatal. 

Orcas have been known to approach boats and bump them, but this behavior is usually seen as playful or curious. Orcas are also known to help humans who are in danger. For example, a group of orcas once helped a diver escape from a shark attack

The history of Eden’s whaling has been decolonized to emphasize the historic bond between Indigenous Australians and killer whales. The partnership between people and whales is considered rare

The relationship between the coastal Thaua people and the killer whales began before European colonization and commercial whaling. The Thaua people are part of the Yuin nation. 

The Eden Killer Whale Museum recognized Tom as one of the pod’s leaders. Tom was 22 feet long and weighed around 6 tonnes. 

The “unspoken rule” between the killer whales and humans is known as the Law of Tongue. This law refers to the process of whalers anchoring the whale carcass to the sea floor or near the shore, where the killer whales feed on the carcass.

There are three main types of killer whales in the North Pacific: 

• Resident: These whales are social and form large pods. They eat fish, especially Chinook salmon. 
• Transient: These whales are solitary and travel in small groups. They eat marine mammals. 
• Offshore: These whales prefer sharks. 

Each type has different genetics, appearance, habitat, diet, and behavior. They share some of the same habitats but don’t interbreed. 

Some other types of killer whales include: 

• Type A: These whales are large, black and white, with a medium-sized white eye patch. They live in open water and eat minke whales. 
• Type B1: These whales are smaller than Type A and have a large white eye patch. 
• Type C: These whales are also known as Ross Sea killer whales. They are paler than other killer whales and have a yellowish tint to their skin. They are often found in the Ross Sea in Antarctica. 

The largest known killer whales are male Antarctic type A whales, which can grow to 30 ft long. The smallest killer whales are Antarctic type C whales, with adult females averaging 17 ft long and adult males averaging 18 ft long. (Full article source google)