Why do the dorsal fins of killer whales flop down?
Why do the dorsal fins of killer whales in captivity flop down, but in the wild, they don’t? Qualification: Watched Netflix Documentary ‘Blackfish’ that described the biology behind it. Answer: The reason the dorsal fins of killer whales are floppy in captivity is because they’re depressed and anxious.
Do killer whales have hooked fins?
Currently, of the killer whale populations that use B.C. waters, there are several males with “hooked” dorsal fins (where the top is curled over) and several fins with significant abnormalities, but only Yuculta is known to have a fully flopped fin.
Why do whales have curved fins?
Which may explain why more captive whales have curved fins. In captivity, whales breach the surface more often, exposing their fins to the warmer air. It doesn't take long for this process to happen. One group developed curved fins after a month in captivity. But once the group was released back to the wild the fins reverted to normal.
Why do whales fall over when they swim?
This means that the fin tissue gets less support than it would if the orca were in the wild, and it starts to fall over. The whales also often swim in a repetitive circular pattern.
Why do whales have curved fins?
One reason this may happen is from temperature. Warmer temperatures can disrupt collagen's structure and rigidity. Which may explain why more captive whales have curved fins. In captivity, whales breach the surface more often, exposing their fins to the warmer air. It doesn't take long for this process to happen.
How fast can a killer whale swim?
In the wild, killer whales swim on average 3 to 4 mph and can sprint at speeds up to 34 mph. At those speeds, water creates a considerable force against the fin, which could keep the fin strong and upright. Captive whales don't have enough space to reach these speeds.
Does fin collapse affect whales?
See how the company went from retail giant to gaming dinosaur. Contrary to popular belief, fin collapse doesn't just affect captive whales. Biologists think there are several reasons for the phenomenon. Following is a transcript of the video. Contrary to popular belief, it's not just in captive whales.
Can whale fin collapse affect captive whales?
Contrary to popular belief, fin collapse doesn't just affect captive whales. Biologists think there are several reasons for the phenomenon. Following is a transcript of the video. Contrary to popular belief, it's not just in captive whales.
Why do whale fins collapse?
There have been many theories as to why fins collapse in wild killer whales, including injury, age, stress, dehydration and poor health . As Yuculta has survived eight year thus far with a fully flopped fin, it is likely this state is due to an injury as opposed to any major stress or illness.
How tall do killer whales get?
It takes until their late teens to reach the full height, sometimes reaching 1.8m (6ft) tall! Females always retain and smaller, more curved fin.
What is the whale name B13?
Without photographic proof I couldn’t be certain, but if I was a gambler, I would have placed my money on B13. B13, also known as Yuculta, is a male northern resident killer whale born in 1987. His matriline is known as the B7s and includes his mother, his brother and sister, and his sister’s calves. He is one of the most easily identified northern ...
Do killer whales have scars?
This type of tissue is vulnerable to injury and many killer whales, both male and female, bear permanent scars to their dorsal fins from injuries. Additionally, many male killer whales show signs of wrinkling in the fin as they age and some show partial flops or collapses.
What does it mean when an orca's dorsal fin collapses?
Dorsal fin collapse can be viewed as a symptom; that is, a sign of the existence of something , especially of an undesirable situation .
What are the problems with orcas?
Captivity has a range of inherent undesirable problems for orcas, including but not limited to aspects that may affect the upright position of the dorsal fin. This “loss of structural integrity” (LSI) can result in partial or total collapse of the dorsal fin. Some of the problems associated with captivity are inadequate depth of the tanks ...
What does it mean when an orca has an indentation around its thorax?
He had an indentation around his thorax indicating entanglement , which may have led to the dorsal fin collapse. Typically, less than 1% of the males from any free-ranging orca population exhibit dorsal fins that are totally collapsed.
Do orcas have LSI?
LSI occurs in all adult male orcas (and many females) in captivity; that is, 100% of captive adult males have totally or partially collapsed dorsal fins. No captive display facilities, including SeaWorld, have conducted relevant research into this phenomenon.
Is there evidence for dorsal fin collapse?
But there is no evidence to support or refute a genetic influence. If playback doesn't begin shortly, try restarting your device.
Do orcas have dorsal fins?
For example, resident orcas generally have dorsal fins that are rounded at the tip and are more falcate (curved overall) than transient orcas, who generally have dorsal fins that are pointed at the tip and are more triangular in shape (see Figure 1). Figure 1.