Orcinology (KILLER WHALES) with Jorge Vélez-Juarbe

Punted seals. Sunken yachts. Beach ambushes. And salmon hats? What’s even happening with killer whales? Are they sadists, or just hungry hungry hippos turned marine mammals? The Natural History Museum of LA County’s marine mammal expert Dr. Jorge Vélez-Juarbe joins the show to chat about peachy babies, how their language is like a trucker radio, tiny whiskers, the formal wear, what’s with the nubbin teeth, if you should go whale watching, pod sizes, Indigenous folklore, captivity struggles, whales that meow, fatty melons and so much more. Also: baby whiskers. Spooktober continues, with these aquatic killers.
Visit Dr. Vélez-Juarbe’s website (sites.google.com/site/velezjuarbe) and follow him on Instagram (instagram.com/boritherium/?hl=en) and Google Scholar (scholar.google.com/citations?user=v66fxrIAAAAJ…)
A donation went to the Ocean Animal Response and Research Alliance (oarra.org)
Save the Academy Virtual Rally: Thursday, October 15 at noon Eastern.Register on Zoom (us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN__O6gwBQ6S1…)
More episode sources and links (alieward.com/ologies/orcinology)
Other episodes you may enjoy: Oceanology (OCEANS) (alieward.com/ologies/oceanology), Delphinology (DOLPHINS) (alieward.com/ologies/delphinology), Selachimorphology (SHARKS) (alieward.com/ologies/selachimorphology), Elasmobranchology (MORE SHARK STORIES) (alieward.com/ologies/elasmobranchology), Pinnipedology (SEALS & WALRUSES) (alieward.com/ologies/pinnipedology), Ichthyology (FISHES) (alieward.com/ologies/ichthyology), Mammalogy (MAMMALS) (alieward.com/ologies/mammalogy), Functional Morphology (ANATOMY) (alieward.com/ologies/functional-morphology), Hyaenidology (HYENAS) (alieward.com/ologies/hyaenidology)
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Editing by Mercedes Maitland of Maitland Audio Productions (maitlandaudio.com) and Jake Chaffee (jecmusic.com)
Managing Director: Susan Hale
Scheduling Producer: Noel Dilworth
Transcripts by Aveline Malek
Website by Kelly R. Dwyer (kellyrdwyer.com/photo)
Theme song by Nick Thorburn

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