LYCOS RETRIEVER 
Whales (Ecotourism): Orca Whales
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Each pod contains up to 30 or 40 whales and is structured around the oldest female, with males remaining in their mothers' pods. These groups communicate vocally underwater and each pod uses a slightly different dialect. Males may not reach maturity until the age of 15 to 20 years and live 45 to 60 years. Female orcas live to 55 to 70 years. The female has a gestation period of 15 months and calves at intervals of 3 years.
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Tight social units are another reliable way to identify orca whales. Look for the most distinctive whale or distinguishable features of a whale, then identify that whale. Once one whale is identified, refer to the family tree to assist in identifying other whales in the vicinity.
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Pods of small whales were driven onshore for food and oil. And, in the 19th century, Orcadian sailors, renowned for their small boat prowess, were regularly recruited for whaling ships heading for the South Atlantic.
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"Large pods of powerful orca whales roam the waters off these islands, providing the highlights for two-, three- and five-day sea kayaking/camping trips that depart from Friday Harbor, Wash., from May through October." 888-589-4253; sea-quest-kayak.com.
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Beware of companies who advertise “guaranteed whales”, as only an amusement park can truly guarantee whale sightings. The magnificence of seeing an Orca in the wild is unsurpassed, largely because they are still wild and can be unpredictable.
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Orca Whales