Killer Whales

Orcas, or killer whales, are large carnivorous marine mammals. They are actually not whales, but dolphins.National Geographic: Killer Whale (Orca) Orcas were discovered in 1758 and, because they prey on whales, were once called "whale killers" by whalers.Whale Songs: Killer Whale They are found in several national parks in Alaska.NPCA: Killer Whale

On February 24, 2010, Sea World trainer Dawn Brancheau lost her life after the killer whale Tilikum held her underwater and drowned her. This mark the third time this specific killer whale has caused the death of someone. Sea World temporarily canceled all their killer whale shows across the United States as they regroup and evaluate the situation.http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/35566392/ns/us_news-environment/ Of the 50 killer whales held in captivity, only a few have caused deaths. Since the 1970s, there have been 25 documented attacks.http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/story?id=2690153

Orcas have a tapering, cylindrical body which is beneficial for swimming as it creates less drag moving through the water.SeaWorld.org: Killer Whale - Physical Characteristics Orcas are black and white in color. They have an oval white patch above each eye and are white to gray in color behind the dorsal fins. In mature males, the dorsal fin is shaped like an isosceles triangle. The dorsal fin is smaller and curved in females and young males.American Cetacean Society: Orca (Killer Whale)

Orcas are seen in both warm and cold waters. They are found from the Equator to the polar regions, but are most commonly found in the Arctic and Antarctic waters.NPCA: Killer Whale National Geographic: Killer Whale (Orca) They travel in groups of 5 to 30, called pods, from hemisphere to hemisphere to where food is most abundant.NPCA: Killer Whale American Cetacean Society: Orca (Killer Whale) Orcas will migrate north into the Chukchi and Beaufort Seas in the fall and throughout the Bering Strait in the spring.Alaska Department of Fish & Game: Orca

• National Geographic Kids: Orca (Killer Whales)

• JigZone.com: Killer Whale Jigsaw Puzzle

• FunTrivia.com: Orca, The Killer Whale Quiz

• Comics.com: Killer Whale Search

• 50birds: Orca, March Calendar

• PBS KIDS Sprout: Orca Whale Coloring Page