Orcas Moving into the Arctic Could Spell Trouble for Whales
The arrival of orcas in Arctic waters raises concerns for local whale populations and human communities dependent on them
Orcas, Arctic, Beluga Whales, Narwhals, Bowhead Whales, Canada
Winnipeg: Killer whales are making their way into Arctic waters, and it’s a big deal. As climate change melts the ice, these orcas are expanding their territory. Canadian scientists have even spotted two different populations of them.
This could be bad news for other whales like belugas and narwhals, which are pretty slow and tasty, according to lead researcher Colin Garroway. He’s worried that these orcas, being apex predators, might shake things up in the ecosystem.
Garroway, who studies evolution at the University of Manitoba, mentioned that the orcas could also impact humans. They might mess with the food web that northern communities rely on for their social and economic well-being.
In the eastern Canadian Arctic, researchers have seen orcas mainly hunting belugas and narwhals, along with some bowhead whales and seals. Garroway thinks this could lead to big changes in how these animals interact.
The Arctic is warming faster than anywhere else on Earth, and as the ice melts, it’s opening up to species that usually don’t venture this far north, like killer whales. They used to be rare visitors because they could get hurt on the ice, but now they’re showing up more often.
When researchers took tissue samples, they were shocked to find two distinct populations of orcas. Garroway couldn’t believe it at first, but the data confirmed it. One group is unique globally, while the other is similar to orcas from Greenland.
These two groups have different feeding habits and sounds, and they don’t even recognize each other as potential mates. There are tons of belugas, narwhals, and other whales in the Arctic, making it a buffet for the orcas.
With less ice, it’s easier for killer whales to hunt these “slow, chubby, and delicious” whales. While it’s fascinating to see more orcas in the Arctic, their presence could disrupt the local ecosystem.
Garroway pointed out that the prey species are vital to Indigenous communities, so their conservation is crucial as orcas move in. During the research, northern Indigenous groups expressed worries about the orcas hunting food that’s essential for their communities.
It’s a tricky situation because the killer whales themselves are at risk, and everything is changing. Garroway’s team is still researching, and there’s a lot we don’t know about these Arctic orcas, especially where they go in winter when the seas freeze.
Tracking them has been tough. They’ve had some whales with transmitters, but they often lose signal at the edge of the Arctic. “We don’t know where these whales go when they’re not in the Arctic,” Garroway said. There’s still so much to learn.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 26, 2024.
Nono Shen, The Canadian Press