Orcas News

Orcas found killing and eating beaked whales and sevengill sharks By Tim Sandle Killer whales do not tend to trouble humans much but they are ferocious hunter-killers of marine life. Even so, the discovery that orcas kill beaked whales and sevengill sharks has surprised marine biologists.

Video of a lifetime shows B.C. orcas up close and personal By Megan Hamilton Vancouver - An encounter with northern resident orcas has given an amateur videographer a gift he will never forget. He was able to capture rare footage of the strikingly marked marine mammals rubbing themselves on beach stones in B.C.'s Discovery Islands.

Orca survives near-deadly entanglement when pod keeps her afloat By Megan Hamilton For one female orca entangled in a cray pot line near the Northeastern coast of New Zealand, teamwork paid off. Dian, a six-meter orca survived because five members of her pod — Including her calf — lifted her up, keeping her afloat.

Surprise! Southern Resident Killer Whales welcome new calf By Elizabeth Batt Friday Harbor - There was welcome news yesterday for the Southern Resident Killer Whale (SRKW) population after L86, also named 'Surprise' was spotted with a new calf at her side. With two pod members officially declared deceased this year, it was a much-needed boost.

Op-Ed: Killer whales dominate Superpod Three on San Juan Island Special By Elizabeth Batt Friday Harbor - Superpod Three concluded last Friday following a fabulous whirlwind five-day orca-fest, hosted by the cast of the documentary, ‘Blackfish’. The real stars of the show however, were undoubtedly, the killer whales themselves.

New Whale Week festival spotlights Scotland’s rich marine habitat By Robert Myles Tobermory - Believed to be the first event of its kind in Scotland, the inaugural Whale Week festival, highlighting the importance of Scotland’s west coast, peppered with islands and inlets, as a habitat for cetaceans, kicks off on Sunday, June 8.

Multiple sources confirm SeaWorld's Kalia is pregnant By Elizabeth Batt San Diego - Several sources from within SeaWorld have now confirmed to Digital Journal that nine-year-old killer whale Kalia is pregnant.

Former trainers decry possible orca pregnancy at SeaWorld Special By Elizabeth Batt San Diego - A newly-released YouTube video caused a stir over the weekend after it showed SeaWorld staff performing an ultrasound on an allegedly pregnant young female orca in San Diego.

'Blackfish' doc inspires legislation to ban orca shows in Calif. By Elizabeth Batt Los Angeles - In another blow for SeaWorld, a state lawmaker introduced new legislation that would ban the use of killer whales during performances in California.

Op-Ed: Best achievements in cetacean advocacy for 2013 By Elizabeth Batt The documentary Blackfish certainly made it the year of the orca, but there were several other notable achievements for cetaceans in 2013. These are the accomplishments voted on by advocates themselves.

Op-Ed: Sources hinting new orca calf born at Marineland France is inbred By Elizabeth Batt Antibes - Marineland France celebrated the birth of a new orca on Nov. 20, or did they? While a 12-year-old female orca named Wikie definitely delivered a calf, there has been no big announcement of the birth.

Killer whale integrated back to her pod in 2002, now gives birth By Marcus Hondro A killer whale called Springer is the first to have been captured and released and subsequently given birth in the wild. She was spotted with a calf on July 4 by biologist Graeme Ellis near Bella Bella on B.C.'s northern coast.

Tilikum talks — Orca's story told in book and film By Elizabeth Batt With both David Kirby's book -- Death At SeaWorld debuting in paperback, and the documentary 'Blackfish' opening across US and UK theatres, July is looking to become Tilikum's month.

Op-Ed: Sea monster found off New Zealand By Paul Wallis Sydney - Another day, another monster? Not quite, this time. A large aquatic animal, apparently carnivorous, has washed up in New Zealand. The body is badly decomposed, and suggests a crocodilian head with a twin fin tail.

Orcas versus sperm whale caught on film By Owen Weldon A recent photo expedition off Sri Lanka produced more than just photos of blue whales. Instead, there was a sighting of killer whales assaulting sperm whales.

Inuit people, Mother Nature provide freedom for trapped whales Special By Greta McClain Quebec - Residents of the small Canadian town of Inukjuak, Quebec are responding to the plight of eleven killer whales trapped under the ice in Hudson Bay.

Op-Ed: Frontline’s 'A Whale Of A Business' finally airs on YouTube Special By Elizabeth Batt It's been 15 years since the documentary was first released in November 1997, but it is still considered one of the most telling exposures of the captive marine mammal industry.

Could a dog named Tucker be the Orca's best chance at survival? By Greta McClain Seattle - Killer whales, also known as Orca whales, are not doing very well in Puget Sound. In fact, in 2005 they were added to the endangered species list. There's hope however in the form of a black lab mix who's helping researchers try and save the whales.

Scientists: Two types of killer whale inhabiting UK waters Special By Elizabeth Batt Aberdeen - An international group of scientists is reporting that two types of killer whale on the verge of becoming separate species, are currently living in UK waters.

Navy bombs in sanctuary, population of gentle orcas endangered Special By Candace Calloway Whiting Less than 90 individuals remain in this population of gentle fish-eating orcas. Low salmon supply and toxins are suspected as contributing causes, but the recent death of a young orca has raised questions of the safety of naval practice in a sanctuary.

Humpback whales intervene in orca attack on gray whale calf Special By Candace Calloway Whiting Monterey - In what is probably the first time such an event has been witnessed and recorded, humpback whales appeared to try to intervene when a pod of killer whales attacked a baby gray whale.

Pro-SeaWorld activists launch censorship petition against book Special By Elizabeth Batt New York - Pro-SeaWorld activists are engaging in censorship in an attempt to quell award-winning author David Kirby's new book, "Death at SeaWorld." What are they afraid of? Digital Journal talked to Kirby to find out.

Op-Ed: Five Killer Whales Versus 2.3 Million Humans By John Dewar Gleissner Many people label relationships and situations they dislike as "slavery." Communists call salaried workers "wage slaves"

Puget Sound's New Arrival By wiccania One of 3 pods of Puget Sound's endangered orcas has a new calf.

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