sessions each season, spending about 10 percent of his time in this activity; however, some males may be involved in as many as seven or eight sessions and devote more than 18 percent of their time to this behavior. Overall, in some populations more than three-quarters of observed sexual activity occurs between males.
Nonreproductive and Alternative Heterosexualities
Orca communities contain a sizable population of older, nonbreeding females. With an average life span of 50 years—and a possible maximum longevity of 80 years—female Killer Whales can experience a postreproductive period of up to 30 years. In some populations, one-third to one-half of adult females are postreproductive, and it is estimated that a stable population can support as many as two-thirds postreproductive females. Many such females are the matriarchs of their group, and their leadership continues even if it means the ultimate demise of the pod: if there are only male offspring, a pod will eventually disappear upon the death of its matriarch, since there are no breeding females to continue the matriline. Many postreproductive females, while not breeding themselves, act as “baby-sitters” or helpers in an elaborate communal parenting system. They, along with breeding females, nonbreeding adult and adolescent females, and adult males, frequently take care of calves when their mothers are away or attending to a sibling. Since most breeding females reproduce only once every five years, there is a large pool of potential helpers who are not themselves parents in the population. It is estimated that each calf may be baby-sat as often as once a day during particularly busy times. Although postreproductive females no longer procreate, they may still participate in sexual activity, often with younger males. Several other types of nonprocreative heterosexuality also occur among Orcas: pregnant females have been observed engaging in courtship and sexual behavior with males, while heterosexual interactions also occur between adults or adolescents (of both sexes) and youngsters (juveniles as well as calves). Some incestuous sexual activity has also been documented, for example between an adolescent male and his juvenile sister. Finally, heterosexual interactions do not always involve just two individuals—sometimes a trio of two males and a female will engage in courtship activity together, and one male may even touch and hold the female while the other copulates with her.
Other Species
Same-sex activity occurs in several other species of toothed whales. Pairs of male Sperm Whales (
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