There’s no-one quite like a killer whale grandma

HUMAN GRANDMOTHERS are not the only ones who muck in to help raise their grandchildren, older killer whale females are known to do the same.

But new research has found that the “wisdom” they offer once their breeding years are over boosts the survival of calves, compared to busy grandmothers who are still able to reproduce.

The sea creature, along with three other species of toothed whales and humans, are the only groups known to experience the menopause, which has long baffled scientists.

Female killer whales stop reproducing in their 30s to 40s, but like humans they can live for many decades following menopause, while their sons and daughters typically stick with them for life.

In an attempt to understand why females of these species stop reproduction well before they die, the University of York and University of Exeter – alongside the Centre for Whale Research in the US, and Fisheries and Oceans Canada – have studied a group of killer whales.

Professor Darren Croft, from the University of Exeter, said: “Our findings show that just as in humans, grandmothers that have gone through menopause are better able to help their grand offspring and these benefits to the family can help explain why menopause has evolved in killer whales just as it has in humans.”