Muscat: More and more sightings of Killer whales have been occurring off the Omani coast of Musandam.
The Killer whales, also known as orca, are not indigenous to Omani waters and sightings are very rare.
Abdul Wahid Al Kamzari, Head of the Natural Conservation Department at the Ministry of Environment and Climate Affairs, said his team has not been able to determine why the sightings are increasing.
“We had only one sighting for the Killer whales last year and we have been not able to conduct studies on orca and why they are entering Omani waters as they are rare,” Al Kamzari said.
The orca is a toothed whale belonging to the oceanic dolphin family, of which it is the largest member.
Killer whales have a diverse diet, although individual populations often specialise in particular types of prey.
Some feed exclusively on fish, while others hunt marine mammals such as seals and dolphins.
They have been known to attack Baleen whale calves, and even adult whales.
Killer whales are apex predators, as there is no animal that preys on them.
Killer whales are considered a cosmopolitan species and can be found in each of the world’s oceans in a variety of marine environments, from Arctic and Antarctic regions to tropical seas.
They are highly social; some populations are composed of matrilineal family groups (pods) which are the most stable of any animal species.
Their sophisticated hunting techniques and vocal behaviours, which are often specific to a particular group and passed across generations, have been described as manifestations of animal culture.
Killer whales feature strongly in the mythologies of indigenous cultures, with their reputation ranging from being the souls of humans to merciless killers.
Oman is home to almost 20 species of whales and dolphins, accounting for over a quarter of the world’s species.
Bryde’s whale or Tropical whale, Blue whale, Humpback whale, Sperm whale, Dwarf Sperm whale, Cuvier’s Beaked whale, Pygmy Killer whale, Melon-headed whales and False Killer whale are the famous types of whales that visit Omani waters.
