Extinction Threatens Orcas That Once Hunted with Humans

Genetic analysis suggests that a population of orcas that hunted alongside Indigenous Australian and European whalers for centuries is likely extinct. The orcas, known as "killers of Eden," had a mutually beneficial relationship with the whalers, where they would lead them to whales and help secure the kill. The DNA of a male orca named Old Tom, who played an active role in the hunts, showed significant genetic differences from living orcas, indicating the extinction of this unique population. The relationship between Indigenous Australians and the orcas is believed to have existed for thousands of years, but the exact origins remain unknown.