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Long Beach Killer (Orca) Whale Watching |
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You may be surprised to know that Killer Whales are not “whales” at all; but in fact are the largest species of dolphin! Nonetheless, Killer Whales are easily the most recognizable kind of “whale” in the world, with their shiny, black skin and characteristic white patch situated slightly above their and behind their eyes. The origins of their menacing moniker, “Killer Whale” comes from their nature to prey on other whales. Physically, Killer Whales generally have a stocky build and an enormous dorsal fin. Males can weigh up to 6 tons and range from 19 to 26 feet long. Females, who are generally smaller than their male counterpart, can weigh anywhere from 2 to 4 tons and be between 16 to 23 feet long.
Killer Whales are friendly and quite intelligent. But they are also very cunning and powerful predators. Similar to wolves, Killer Whales also travel in packs or, “pods” as they are commonly referred to. Reaching speeds of 40mph, the Killer Whale is one of the fastest “whales” in the ocean. To add, they satisfy their hearty appetites by consuming nearly 500 pounds of food daily. The common lifespan of the Killer Whale is 35 to 40 years, with female Killer whales generally outliving males. Finally, although they have also known to live as long as 70 years, the Killer Whale usually only lives for 25 years in captivity.
Southern California Killer Whale Population
The definitive numbers of the Killer Whale population is not known. However, reliable sources show that there are about 100,000 killer whales worldwide. Antarctica has the densest population with 75,000 killer whales living in its waters. The rest of the known population is presumed to reside in the tropical Pacific and off the coasts of both Japan and Norway.
Southern California Killer Whale Feeding Habits
While Killer Whales are collectively known to consume nearly 500 lbs. of food a day, what these whales feast on is dependent on the geographical region in which they live in. For instance, Killer Whales in Norway tend to feed on herring; while Killer Whales in other regions eat seals. What’s more, Killer whales seem to display discriminatory tastes in the food they eat. For example, Killer Whales who live in the Northeast region of the world prefer to eat a particular type of fatty salmon and thus will consciously be indifferent to preying on other schools of salmon. In the region of New Zealand, Killer Whales seem to prefer a piece of liver from a Great White Shark. These New Zealand whales are also particular to preying on stingrays, squid, and sea turtles and over 30 kinds of other fish. The Southern California Killer Whales have been known to prey in groups, choosing large whales such as the Minke Whale, Gray Whale,
Sperm Whale, and the Blue Whale for meals. Interestingly enough, even with the cooperation of multiple other Killer Whales, it may still take a couple of hours to finally seize the prey and eat it. Typically, however, the California Sea Lion is the most abundant food source for the California Killer Whale.
Southern California Killer Whale Migratory Patterns
Killer whales are found in all the oceans and most of the seas throughout the world and do not have large migratory patterns like other whales. For the most part, the Killer whale prefers the colder water climates. The migration patterns of the Killer whales do have is not understood very well and is often times a subject of great debate. Killer whales have been known to migrate from Alaska to California. An interesting fact about Killer whales is that they have been seen traveling into fresh water rivers from time to time. While Killer Whales are known to reside in all of the world’s oceans and many of its seas, they prefer colder climates and therefore do not migrate to the extent that other whale populations do. In fact, definitively tracing migration patterns of Killer Whales is a controversial effort and thus the validity of growing research is weakened. What is known is that there is a high concentration of Killer whales in the Pacific Northwest nearby Canada and Alaska. Also, Killer whales have been increasing in numbers off the coast of California over the last several decades.
Long Beach Whale Watching conducts whale and dolphin watching cruises seven days a week with tours at 12 p.m. and 3 p.m. It is a good idea to arrive early as these cruises do fill up quickly. Tours usually last from two to two and a half hours. Ticket prices are as follows:
Individual Ticket Prices – Two Hour to 2 ½ Hour Cruise
Adults $30
Seniors (62 and over) $25
Children (11 and under) $18
Children (2 and under) FREE!
Ticket Prices for groups of 25 or more.
Adults $22
Seniors (62 and over) $18
Children (11 and under) $12
Children (2 and under) FREE!
You can order your tickets online by clicking the button, or calling 562-432-4900. If you have a discount coupon, please present it at the ticket booth.
We look forward to seeing you and continuing to make Long Beach Whale Watching your choice for whale watching in southern California. We offer convenient parking and are located near many area attractions such as The Aquarium of the Pacific, Long Beach Lighthouse and Queen Mary as well as excellent shopping and restaurant so you can make a day of it. Whale watching is a wonderful experience regardless of age. We can’t wait to provide the best whale watching in southern California experience possible.
For more information on other Southern California Whales or other Long Beach Sea Life, please click on the link below:
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