# Can Killer Whales or Dolphins survive in fresh water? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 14, 2004, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-killer-whales-or-dolphins-survive-in-fresh-water/250300 "2004-06-14T16:08:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![McDeath\_the\_Mad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a3d4f5/32.png) [@McDeath\_the\_Mad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/McDeath_the_Mad)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2004, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-killer-whales-or-dolphins-survive-in-fresh-water/250300/1 "2004-06-14T16:08:31Z")
Well can they? They are both mammals, could they survive the actual water change? How long could they live there (providing there was enough food)? MtM ---
**Author:** ![Kings\_Gambit1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/dc4da7/32.png) [@Kings\_Gambit1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kings_Gambit1)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2004, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-killer-whales-or-dolphins-survive-in-fresh-water/250300/2 "2004-06-14T16:22:54Z")
A quick search of the WWW, says yes to [Dolphins](http://www.dolphin-isl-greenware.org/marine_lab/blue_hangar/egdolfaq.htm#faq1) (5 kinds), and yes to [Killer Whales](http://www.abc-kid.com/killerwhales/). > [@](#): > > They [Killer Whales] have also been seen in fresh water rivers around the world such as the Rhine, the Thames, and the Elbe. One even traveled some 177 km up the Columbia River to eat fish. :eek: ---
**Author:** ![jellytoes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/eb9ed0/32.png) [@jellytoes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jellytoes)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2004, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-killer-whales-or-dolphins-survive-in-fresh-water/250300/3 "2004-06-14T16:40:53Z")
There are several species of [river dolphins](http://www.southwest.com.au/~kirbyhs/pinkdolphins.html) that live exclusively in freshwater. Take a look at the pink dolphins that live in the Amazon River, gorgeous! ---
**Author:** ![Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tapioca_Dextrin)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2004, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-killer-whales-or-dolphins-survive-in-fresh-water/250300/4 "2004-06-14T16:46:40Z")
Slightly off topic, but the [Bull Shark](http://www.time.com/time/2001/sharks/cover2.html) can live in freshwater, too > [@](#): > > A unique feature of bull sharks is their ability to live in both salt- and fresh water; they have attacked people in Lake Nicaragua in Central America and have been seen above St. Louis, Mo., in the Mississippi River. St. Louis :eek: ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2004, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-killer-whales-or-dolphins-survive-in-fresh-water/250300/5 "2004-06-14T16:49:29Z")
> [@Kings\_Gambit1](#): > > One even traveled some 177 km up the Columbia River to eat fish. Must’ve been a _damn_ good restaurant. ---
**Author:** ![RandomLetters](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8edcca/32.png) [@RandomLetters](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RandomLetters)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2004, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-killer-whales-or-dolphins-survive-in-fresh-water/250300/6 "2004-06-14T18:53:55Z")
> [@jellytoes](#): > > There are several species of [river dolphins](http://www.southwest.com.au/~kirbyhs/pinkdolphins.html) that live exclusively in freshwater. > Take a look at the pink dolphins that live in the Amazon River, gorgeous! And tasty looking too. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2004, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-killer-whales-or-dolphins-survive-in-fresh-water/250300/7 "2004-06-16T02:43:49Z")
> [@](#): > > … bull sharks … have been seen above St. Louis, Mo., in the Mississippi River. Man, that _sucks_ I freaking _live_ in a state that is bordered by the Father of Waters. ---
**Author:** ![wevets](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e9a140/32.png) [@wevets](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wevets)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2004, 7:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-killer-whales-or-dolphins-survive-in-fresh-water/250300/8 "2004-06-16T07:09:54Z")
The problem is not that they can’t survive freshwater, just that it’s downright dangerous to separate them from their tonic water and gin. Talk about party animals! 😉