article_snippet: Now scientists have discovered that killer whales - a species separated from humans by almost 94 million years of evolution - also suffer from the menopause and killer whales - a species separated from humans by almost 94 million years of evolution - could provide clues as to why killer whales - a species separated from humans by almost 94 million years of evolution - evolved in the first place.
article_snippet: Older female killer whales tend to take the lead (like the one above) when families are foraging for food .
article_snippet: Now a team of researchers from the University of Exeter and the University of York may have unraveled the reason for the menopause - in killer whales at least.
article_snippet: the short-finned pilot whale and the killer whale have found that it frees up the older, more experienced females to lead the short-finned pilot whale and the killer whale families in the search for food and so boost the ability of the entire group to survive.
article_snippet: The researchers, whose study is published in the journal Current Biology, studied groups of killer whales in the wild off the coast of British Columbia and Washington during nine summer salmon migrations.
article_snippet: Female killer whales can continue having calves, like above, until around the age of 35 years old say scientists .
article_snippet: In total Female killer whales observed 102 whales - 58 of which were female - and studied which of Female killer whales occupied the lead position as Female killer whales hunted for the salmon.
article_snippet: Female killer whales also used 35 years worth of data on the whale population in the area to identify those that had gone through the menopause.
article_snippet: On average female killer whales older than 35 years old were found to have gone through the menopause.
article_snippet: Female killer whales found that the older post-reproductive females tended to lead groups of average female killer whales older than 35 years old when Female killer whales were foraging for salmon.
article_snippet: Female killer whales were also more likely to take the lead in years when the salmon abundance was low - meaning average female killer whales older than 35 years old were struggling to find food.
article_snippet: The value gained from the wisdom of elders can help explain why female killer whales and humans continue to live long after female killer whales and humans have stopped reproducing.
article_snippet: Female killer whales also found that post-menopausal killer whales were also more likely to lead Female killer whales sons than Female killer whales daughters.
article_snippet: Dr Daniel Franks, from the University of York, said: 'Killer whale mothers direct more help toward sons than daughters because sons offer greater potential benefits for daughters to pass on daughters genes. '
highlights_snippet: Killer whales are one of a handful of animals that undergo the menopause .
  
highlights_snippet: Killer whales go through the menopause at an average age of 35 years old .
  