Although Aristotle correctly identified orca whales as mammals in the 4th Century BC, they have been frequently misrepresented as fish. The author of Moby Dick described whales as "spouting fish with a horizontal tail", while the common name for orca for many years was 'Blackfish'.
Orcas have evoked widespread fear and hatred in man for centuries. They have often been incorrectly portrayed as indiscriminate and voracious killers. Pliny the Elder stated that "A killer whale cannot be properly depicted or described except as an enormous mass of flesh armed with savage teeth." In 1973 US Navy manuals described orcas as "extremely ferocious, will attack humans at every opportunity". Even the species name, Orcinus orca, is derived from the Latin word meaning 'belonging to the kingdom of the dead'.
For over fifty years the Norwegian Government subsidized the hunting of orcas, following claims by fishermen that they were decimating fishing stocks. Between 1938 and 1980 an average of 57 whales were killed each year. Similarly, in 1960, a machine gun was installed by the US government to kill orcas following complaints from sports fishermen on Vancouver Island. Although it was never used, orcas alive today still bear gunshot wounds on their bodies from that time.
Conversely, many native peoples regarded the Orca with both awe and respect. The Tlingit of South-eastern Alaska believed that the Orca would give them strength, health and food from the sea, but never hurt them. The Haida call the Orca 'Skaana', meaning 'supernatural chief of the world under the seas'.
Attitudes towards the Orca began to change in the 1970s due to a number of factors. The growing environmental movement increased the sense of compassion for all animals and was responsible for initiating calls to end whaling. Researchers, particularly in the Pacific Northwest, began to increase understanding of the Orca. At the same time the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 made it an offence to harass or harm any marine mammal in US waters. The capture and display of orcas also dispelled fears about the animals, as people began to appreciate their intelligence, playfulness and innocent, curious relationship with humans. The cost to individual orcas however was high.
Humans encountering orcas in the wild have also experienced a mysterious and emotional connection with these whales. The parallels between the two species are numerous. Both humans and orcas are top predators in their realm. Our life cycles are similar, with major life events occurring at approximately the same time. We are both intelligent animals that learn and remember easily, and pass on specific knowledge to our young. We both rely on our senses, our speed and our strength. We are both living in extremely evolved, complex and stable social structures that are highly ordered, and we both show an unusual devotion to our families. (Who can read of the account of an injured calf without thinking of their own children?) We both demonstrate a wide range of subtle communication signals and exhibit an unusual degree of cooperation.
Perhaps we might entertain the thought that the Orca could even be superior to man? After all its sonar system is far superior to our own senses and is even ten times more powerful than our most advanced equipment. The Orca brain is bigger and its eyesight is equally good in or out of the water. Moreover, the Orca has learned to exist in remarkably stable social groups, with no apparent violence. One thing is clear - the Orca commands our respect. If we are wise we will do all we can to protect it and its habitat so that we may learn more about its remarkable nature and enjoy its company always.
