Eavesdropping on orcas: love, grief, and family
The Wild with Chris Morgan
00:00
The Intergenerational Trauma of Orcas
The orcas are observed to potentially pass down trauma through generations due to events like capture and separation in the 60s and 70s, shown through high cortisol levels. Research indicates their highly developed brains in areas linked to language, emotion, and memory, suggesting emotional intelligence. The traumatic events, like the Penn Cove capture in 1970, led to deaths and separations, notably impacting the grandmothers who transmitted family culture. One survivor, Tokutai, still sings the song her mother taught her. The orcas avoid places of trauma, showcasing memory and emotional connections, reflecting potential intergenerational trauma similar to humans.
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