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Science/nature/environment

Orcas and the menopause

(3 Posts)
JessM Fri 13-Jan-17 22:23:29

Interesting article on orcas - the only other animal to have a menopause. And why this might have evolved.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-37025092

grannypiper Sat 14-Jan-17 16:21:17

Jess, i heard a small part of this yesterday and find it fascinating, but i can honestly say i for one am so glad we humans are a part of this small elite group. How on earth (or in the sea!) do they cope without HRT ?

Dayabay Tue 07-Feb-17 20:26:38

I listened to something similar on Radio 4. The interesting part for me was how dependent the adult males are on their mothers. When a granny Orca dies, the death rate among her 30 + year old sons soars, because she was still feeding them!