Orca Wisdom

I attended a talk given by a young graduate student named Kristen Kanes at the University of Victoria on Orcas, whales of the northern Pacific coast, commonly known as Killer Whales. 

She filled the hour with many interesting findings from hers and others research on these huge, spectacular but threatened sea mammals. She described the whales as intelligent, extremely social and emotional animals. There was standing room only and at the end of her presentation hands shot up all over the audience, including mine, to ask her questions. 

One of the pieces of information I found particularly interesting was that there is a Southern Resident female Orca who is about 105 years old.  Not only is it amazing that this whale is still alive and active but as Kristen pointed out, whales go through menopause at around 35 years of age.  In most of the animal kingdom, once females stop being productive they die as they've served their purpose.

I couldn’t help but think that is not that different in humans.  After age 40, women increasingly become less influential. In our society, as (external) beauty fades, women become invisible, marginalised and devalued.   

When the speaker was asked why this Orca is still alive she told us that she is not the only one. There are other females approaching this age that are still healthy and active.  Due to the high percentage of PCBs and other chemicals in their fat stores, male Orcas rarely live past 60 years. Yet because the females express milk through nursing their young, they have reduced the levels of these chemicals in their bodies, helping them to live longer.

But even more importantly the Orca community values theses older females for their wisdom. They are honoured by all pod members. Apparently some adult sons and even other males stay with the older females to receive support and mentoring.  And, grandmother Orcas act as midwives to the young. (see my earlier blog).  

There is still a great deal to be learned about these amazing creatures. 

 

So today, International Women's Day, let's celebrate the Orcas and their wisdom and hope our society can return to a time where females were respected Oracles,  Wise Women and Sages.

© Kelley Balcomb-Bartok