Ocean’s Apex Predator Orcas Show Stunning Intelligence Through Social and Hunting Skills

Only three aquariums in Japan offer this kind of performance

While Japan has many aquariums, only three actually house the ocean’s apex predator—the orca. As a result, fans flock daily to see their cute appearances and dynamic performances. A book titled Orca: The Complete Book was even released, becoming a huge hit by topping 10 categories on Amazon.

For those who aren’t particularly interested, one might wonder what makes orcas so fascinating compared to dolphins or sharks. The answer: once you learn about their extraordinary intelligence, you’re bound to be captivated.

Among the three aquariums, Kamogawa Sea World, which houses the most orcas—three in total—provided insights through trainer Hiromichi Miyagawa:

“The greatest feature of orcas is, of course, why they’re called the kings of the sea. Depending on the ecotype—a group of the same species that differs in appearance and behavior based on its environment—some orcas even hunt whales or sharks, placing them at the very top of the oceanic food chain.

However, it’s important to note that not all orcas are like that. While footage often shows orcas hunting sea lions or seals, not all share the same diet; some only eat fish. Trainers are occasionally asked, ‘Is it safe to be that close to them?’ But at Kamogawa Sea World, all the orcas descend from fish-eating lineages, such as those that eat herring, so there’s no need to worry (laughs).”

They are so smart that it’s hard to take their eyes off of them. The secret lies in their matriarchal group

Whether orcas are hunting fish or whales, what amazes observers is their incredible cleverness in hunting strategies. They surround schools of fish with their pod, intimidating from one side while ambushing from another—highly coordinated and deliberate. When targeting whales, they can hold them down from above to prevent them from surfacing for air. For seals on drifting ice, orcas work together to lift or push them off the ice into the water for capture.

This remarkable teamwork is strongly influenced by a unique characteristic of orcas: they live in matriarchal groups.

“Orcas are unusual in that an older female always leads the pod. In simple terms, it’s like having a grandmother as the leader. They communicate using specific calls understood only within their group, coordinating their activities and daily life.

Pod sizes range from just a few individuals to several dozen. Males may stay in their birth pod, join another, or wander alone. Much about orca pods remains unknown, but one thing is certain: females are always the leaders. Knowledge is passed down from mother to daughter, which contributes to the orcas’ high social intelligence.”

At Kamogawa Sea World, the three female orcas—Rabby, Lala, and Luna—demonstrate this hierarchy. Rabby and Lala are sisters, and Luna is Rabby’s daughter. Interestingly, Lala has been more attentive in helping raise Luna than Rabby herself. Even though Lala is larger and more assertive, Rabby remains the undisputed leader. When Rabby becomes angry, the coordination among the three orcas collapses, showing that their rank is absolute and unchanging—a fascinating glimpse into their social structure.

Performances are almost improvised

Orcas are famous for their dynamic and beautiful performances, which are hugely popular with audiences. From the “Looping Kick,” where they strike a ball suspended above the water with their tail flukes, to the “Swimming Burst,” where they splash spectators while swimming, and the “Combination Jump” with trainers, they perform nearly 80 different acts.

But orcas are extremely intelligent, and training them is no easy task. One challenge is that they quickly get bored if asked to do the same thing repeatedly.

“When the order of acts becomes predictable, the orcas start anticipating them. For example, they might perform a jump without a signal, as if thinking, ‘This is next,’ or even move ahead of the trainer in anticipation of where we’ll jump.

Such predictions can lead to boredom, so we have to think one step ahead. If we sense they’re expecting us to move right, we might deliberately go left. This way, we keep the orcas mentally stimulated. In fact, our performances aren’t entirely pre-planned; the trainers improvise in real time based on the orcas’ behavior.”

Orcas also show a surprising level of dedication to practicing on their own.

“When Luna was still young, we peeked into the pool after closing and found her practicing the Looping Kick by herself. Even though the balls had been collected after the show, she was jumping toward the same positions as during the performance—apparently checking the course. They also repeatedly practiced the landing move, climbing onto the pool edge, even outside of formal training.

I think it’s less about serious practice and more like a personal hobby. Sometimes, they even perform these favorite moves during a show without any signal, prompting the other orcas to join in and creating a bit of chaos. Of course, it can be troublesome at times, but seeing their quirky, independent personalities makes them fascinating. It’s easy to see why they’re so beloved.”

Killer whales are not booming; they have always been popular

Orcas are renowned for their breathtaking, high-energy performances, which captivate audiences. Their repertoire includes nearly 80 acts, from the “Looping Kick,” where they strike a suspended ball with their tail flukes, to the “Swimming Burst,” which sends splashes toward spectators, and the “Combination Jump” performed with trainers.

Yet these animals are incredibly intelligent, making training a real challenge. One major difficulty is that orcas quickly grow bored when asked to repeat the same routine.

“When the sequence of acts becomes predictable, orcas begin to anticipate them. They might execute a jump without any signal, as if thinking, ‘This is next,’ or even move ahead of the trainer, anticipating where we will jump.

Predictability can lead to boredom, so we have to think one step ahead. If we sense they expect us to move right, we might deliberately go left. This keeps the orcas mentally stimulated. In reality, our performances aren’t strictly pre-planned; trainers improvise on the spot, responding to the orcas’ behavior.”

Orcas also show remarkable initiative in practicing on their own.

“When Luna was still young, we peeked into the pool after closing and saw her practicing the Looping Kick by herself. Even though the balls had been removed, she jumped toward the same positions as in the show, seemingly checking her course. They would also repeatedly practice the ‘landing’ move, climbing onto the pool edge, even outside formal training sessions.

I think it’s less about formal practice and more like a personal hobby. Sometimes, they perform these favorite moves during a show without a signal, prompting the other orcas to join in and creating a bit of chaos. It can be inconvenient at times, but observing their quirky, independent personalities is fascinating. It’s easy to see why they’re so adored.”

Orca Marugoto Book” (edited by Shunsuke Namban, supervised by Hiroshi Katsumata, director of Kamogawa Sea World, from Tatsumi Publishing Co.)