The Inquiry4 Tammi 2024

Are orcas OK?

Something strange started happening in early 2023 in the waters off south-western Europe, where the Mediterranean sea meets the Atlantic ocean. Orcas began slamming into the sides of fishing and sailing vessels. The killer whales then dived underneath to locate and destroy the rudders used to steer the boats. Once finished, the orcas departed, leaving shocked crews and thousands of dollars of damage behind. Some of the attacks were over in a matter of minutes, but others lasted hours.

It’s very unusual behaviour for this particular mammal, but orcas are under a lot of threat from man-made hazards. Factors like underwater noise pollution, overfishing, toxic waste and climate change to name a few are making orca life extremely difficult. Could all of this have caused this change in behaviour?

Contributors:

Billy Heaney, zoologist, wildlife tour guide and presenter Dr Jeremy Kiszka, professor of biology at Florida International University in Miami Hannah Strager, marine biologist and director of exhibitions at the Whale Museum in Norway Nicola Hodgins, researcher with the global charity Whale and Dolphin Conservation

Presenter: Charmaine Cozier Producers: Anoushka Mutanda-Dougherty, Jill Collins, Matt Toulson Editors: Tara McDermott and Tom Bigwood Researcher: Matt Toulson Sound designer: Nicky Edwards Production co-ordinator: Jordan King

Image: An orca showing its teeth (Credit: Marcos del Mazo/LightRocket via Getty Images)

Tämä jakso on lisätty Podme-palveluun avoimen RSS-syötteen kautta eikä se ole Podmen omaa tuotantoa. Siksi jakso saattaa sisältää mainontaa.

Jaksot(609)

Can China’s polar silk road change global trade?

Conflict in the Middle East continues to disrupt global shipping routes including the Strait of Hormuz and the Strait of Malacca. China is now turning to Russia for support in developing an alternativ...

15 Syys 24min

Can Africa take control of its digital future?

Just under 20 years ago Kenya pioneered the use of mobile money. Since then, other countries in Africa have carved out a share of the digital market for themselves, from gaming in Morocco to artificia...

8 Syys 24min

Should rivers have personhood?

River systems around the world are under stress from various factors ranging from pollution, to agriculture, to extractive industries. In some parts of the world there are regulations to help protect ...

1 Syys 23min

How has the Cockroach Janta Party changed India’s politics?

In July 2026, tens of thousands of students took to the streets in India’s capital, demanding reforms to education. The protests followed the leak of medical entrance exam papers but quickly grew to r...

25 Elo 24min

Can elections restore Moroccans’ faith in their country?

In September, Morocco’s citizens will go to the polls for the country’s general election. Morocco is a constitutional monarchy, with a multi-party-political system. A new head of government will be ap...

18 Elo 24min

Is daylight saving time working?

The House of Representatives has voted to make daylight saving time permanent in the United States. If the measure is approved by the Senate and becomes law, most Americans would no longer spring forw...

11 Elo 24min

Is Indigenous education at risk?

New Zealand’s government is making big changes to its education system. The aim is to reverse declining student achievement and give more opportunities to disadvantaged children. The subjects of readi...

4 Elo 24min

Can we live with extreme heat?

Extreme heatwaves are becoming more frequent across the globe, not only in countries used to cooler climates, but also in those already familiar with significantly hotter temperatures. Intense heat c...

28 Heinä 24min