The killer whale is a member of the dolphin family and belongs to a group of animals called cetaceans, which includes whales, dolphins and porpoises. Like humans, killer whales cannot breathe underwater, but unlike us they can hold their breath for up to one hour.

Family groups
Killer whales travel around in family groups called 'pods', and will stay in these close-knit groups for life. Killer whales will sometimes surge onto a beach to catch prey, but this dramatic action can leave them stranded. Most often, they find food through 'echolocation'. This is where they produce a noise, and wait for the echo to bounce back, helping them to locate their prey.

Breeding
Killer whales do not usually breed until they are about 15 years old, and females tend to stop breeding when they are about 40. A young killer whale is called a calf, and when born, is already one-third the size of its mother. They can grow to weigh between 2.5 and 9 tonnes. Females tend to live longer than males.

Distribution
The killer whale inhabits oceans and seas all around the world - from the icy glaciers of Alaska to our own UK waters. They like cold water, and we cannot predict how the effects of global warming might impact upon these mammals. There is still relatively little known about the killer whale, and plenty more research is needed to learn about the behaviour and distribution of this mammal. This information is vital to support its conservation needs in distant waters, as well as around the UK.


Current threats & problems

Predators
Adult killer whales have no real predators - apart from man. These magnificent mammals, along with other marine species, are suffering largely as a result of man's exploitation of the environment. In some countries, whales are still killed for meat, and in Japan recent research revealed that pollution levels are so high that the whale meat is too contaminated for consumption.

Pollution
Pollution is a big problem. Much of the fish that the killer whale consumes is heavily polluted, and the killer whale is reported to be among the most contaminated marine mammals in the world. A report in the Washington Post told of a sample of killer whales that showed toxic chemical levels over 500 per cent higher than those found in humans. Their calves were also born contaminated.

Oil spills, noise pollution and overfishing are also seriously affecting these mammals.


What WWF is doing

A safer habitat
WWF is continuing its work in cooperation with other conservation organisations to provide a safer habitat for marine wildlife. It is funding projects overseas and in the UK to develop our knowledge of the killer whale and other marine species, so we can reduce the threats they face, and allow them to roam wild and free in a safe environment.

An example of success
After huge efforts spanning 10 years, WWF and other conservation groups have been successful in creating a Mediterranean whale sanctuary. It is more than twice the size of Switzerland, and is a major conservation breakthrough for the protection of whales and dolphins.