Are killer whales dangerous to humans?

Are killer whales dangerous to humans?

In the wild orcas pose no threat to humans says James Fair

James Fair

Published: January 24, 2023 at 4:36 pm

There are no documented reports of wild, free-living orcas ever having intentionally attacked humans. The name ‘killer whale’ derives from ‘killers of whales’, not killers of people.

Sadly, according to Rob Lott of the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society, the same cannot be said for orcas kept in captivity, in which aggression towards trainers is common.

“No one is sure what causes the animals to react in this way, but boredom, frustration and ill health, both physical and mental, have all been implicated,” says Rob. “These incidents have resulted in serious injuries to trainers and, in one case at least, proved to be fatal.”

Main image: Orca whale breaching. -© WDC/Rob Lott

James Fair

Wildlife journalist

James Fair writes about wildlife conservation and broader environmental issues for a wide range of publications, including BBC Wildlife and BBC Countryfile magazines. James started his career as a journalist in the early 1990s, then spent a number of years working on conservation projects in South America, including an ultimately doomed effort to reintroduce an orphaned Andean bear cub into the wild in Bolivia. In 1999, James joined BBC Wildlife as a commissioning editor, while later filling the roles of staff writer, environment editor and keyboard destroyer-in-chief. In 2018, he went freelance, and now takes on a range of news, feature and report writing assignments, and is also the editor of the membership magazine of the People’s Trust for Endangered Species (PTES). In 2019, he published his second book, 100 Great Wildlife Experiences: What to see and where.
Orca whale breaching. - © WDC/Rob Lott

© Ann & Steve Toon/Getty

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