Orca Week

12/18/2025

ORCAS of BAJA MEXICO
"To find yourself sharing the ocean with its true apex predator is totally awe-inspiring. They seem to have won the genetic and evolutionary lottery, combining impressive strength with a high IQ." HSP
photo by Henley Spiers Photography

People go crazy for orcas...and I get it. To find yourself sharing the ocean with its true apex predator is totally awe-inspiring. They seem to have won the genetic and evolutionary lottery, combining impressive strength with a high IQ. They are brutal yet tender, capable of inflicting terrible violence but also devoted to the well-being of their family. Even with the wildest imagination, it would be hard to come up with a more compelling animal.

Human passion for orcas can get out of hand...I have seen fleets of boats descend on them once the word spread of their presence. In these cases I won’t even bother getting in the water...you can see the orcas behaviour change as us humans desperately vie for our moment with a killer whale. In these cases, the orcas are quick to flee and fortunately they have the tools to do so.

I have also seen the other side, such as this unforgettable day when we spent 4 hours with a single pod. They were not only impervious, but curious about our presence. On numerous occasions they approached me so closely that I had to draw back my fins to prevent contact...it was astonishing...and it made me feel so small...if you wish to be reminded of your place in the animal kingdom, an encounter with an orca will quickly do so!

12/14/2025

ORCAS IN CHANNEL ISLANDS NATIONAL PARK, CALIFORNIA
"CA138A was feelin’ a special kind of way yesterday! It’s rare for us to see male orcas be surface active, but he was pulling out all the tricks - kelping, breaches, spyhops, tail throws, and more." DTP

12/12/2025

ORCAS IN GULF OF NUEVO, ARGENTINE PATAGONIA
"Thursday, December 11, 2025. Around noon, a large group of approximately 15 orcas was observed sailing compact in the Gulf of Nuevo in the area between Punta Pardelas and Punta Cormoranes. Photos by Luna Barone, Claudio Nicolini, Marisa Berzano and Yasmin Quintanilla." PVOR

12/03/2025

IT COLD UP THERE, NORWAY
“Was so cool to enjoy the last full moon with orcas”
photo by Jérémy Gonçalves
https://www.instagram.com/p/DRabwQSDHOI/?img_index=1

12/02/2025

ORCAS TEMPORARILY TRAPPED, NEW ZEALAND
"Early Sunday morning, locals spotted the pod — two mothers and their calves — swimming deep inside Pandora Pond, a shallow estuary known for its low tides and tricky channels" NZB

🌊 Trapped in the Tides: The Orca Family That Captivated New Zealand 🐋

Over the weekend, a dramatic and emotional wildlife moment unfolded in Napier as a family of orca became trapped inside the Ahuriri Estuary, sending waves of concern through the community. Early Sunday morning, locals spotted the pod — two mothers and their calves — swimming deep inside Pandora Pond, a shallow estuary known for its low tides and tricky channels. As the tide receded, fears quickly grew that the orca could become stranded, a situation that can turn fatal within hours.

More than 100 people gathered along the shoreline, watching anxiously as authorities from the Department of Conservation, Project Jonah, and local iwi rushed to assess the situation. Experts urged the public to keep their distance, recognising that human interaction can cause further stress to the animals — especially with young calves in the mix.

The tension was real. Orca rarely enter areas this shallow, and once inside, their size and depth needs make navigation extremely risky. For a moment, it looked like this could become another tragic marine stranding.

But nature delivered a relief-filled twist.

As the tide slowly rose, the pod regrouped, turned toward the open channel, and — to the cheers of onlookers — glided under the bridge and back out to sea. The moment was described as “magic” by witnesses who had feared the worst only hours earlier.

A reminder that New Zealand’s coastlines are not just beautiful — they’re wild, unpredictable, and home to extraordinary creatures that rely on us giving them space to survive.

12/02/2025

BIGG'S ORCA POPULATION GROWING
Bay Cetology
"It’s been over six years since we published a Bigg’s killer whale photo-identification catalogue and in that time their abundance has continued to increase." BC

11/25/2025

ORCA NEAR SHORE, MONTEREY BAY, CA
"This is Jimmy! AKA CA50B
We rarely see Orcas this close to shore in this part of the Bay!
This was just off Pacific Grove near Point Pinos!" PMWW
Photo by

Wow! Orcas so close to shore!
This is Jimmy! AKA CA50B
We rarely see Orcas this close to shore in this part of the Bay!
This was just off Pacific Grove near Point Pinos!

Photo

11/20/2025

BREMER CANYON ORCA SEASON STARTS DECEMBER 10TH.
"Our Bremer Canyon Orca Season is fast approaching 💨
Kicking off December 10th and running through to late April... it’s almost time to head back out to see the apex predators of the deep." BCKW

11/16/2025

CETACEAN COMMUNICATIONS: DO S***M WHALES USE VOWELS?
Scientists from the Cetacean Translation Initiative, known as Project "CETI, discovered that s***m whales produce vowel-like sounds inside their click patterns, similar to human “a” and “i” vowels." Project CETI

Scientists from the Cetacean Translation Initiative, known as Project CETI, discovered that s***m whales produce vowel-like sounds inside their click patterns, similar to human “a” and “i” vowels.

The research, published in the journal Open Mind, was led by Gašper Beguš, a linguist at UC Berkeley.

For five years, Project CETI has documented hundreds of whales off Dominica using machine learning to study their vocalisations.

Researchers also found diphthong-like glides, and anatomical studies show that whales shape sounds using head structures similar to those of human vocal organs.

Researchers say this reveals far more nuance in whale communication and may be a significant step toward understanding their language.

11/15/2025

NEW ORCA ECOTYPES of KOREAN PENINSULA?
"The illustration suggests that different ecological types of killer whales may occur in South Korean waters, reflecting a range of adaptations and possible migration patterns within the region." UNA

"Killer Whales in South Korea," explores the diversity and possible origins of killer whales observed around the Korean Peninsula. It highlights that killer whales spotted off eastern South Korea resemble Bigg’s killer whales, which are also found in nearby Japan and the Okhotsk Sea. In contrast, those seen near southern South Korea exhibit faint saddle patches and share characteristics with killer whales inhabiting warmer waters. The illustration suggests that different ecological types of killer whales may occur in South Korean waters, reflecting a range of adaptations and possible migration patterns within the region.

11/15/2025

PLANT A TREE - HELP PNW ORCA HABITATS
One Tree Planted is proud to be part of a planting project that improves the habitat of the endangered Southern Resident Orca. Planting trees along rivers and streams of the Pacific Northwest restores the orca habitat by reducing pollution and improving the health and quantity of salmon the orca rely on for food!
(DOWNLOAD THE ORCA POSTER)
https://onetreeplanted.org/pages/orca-poster?srsltid=AfmBOop12WOen5X_Ccdh4AcxIwBgsGN9Q9MYh5mBMaD-e5MUy7QNU2fV

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11/14/2025

ORCAS of KAIKOURA, NEW ZEALAND
"Orca are occasional visitors to kaikoura, moving quickly through the deep waters of the Hikurangi Trench." WWK

Orca are occasional visitors to kaikoura, moving quickly through the deep waters of the Hikurangi Trench. Known for their intelligence and speed, they hunt stingrays and sharks with precision, often working together in close family pods. Orca are rare, but when they do pass through they make an unforgettable encounter. Have you ever seen them in Kaikoura? 🖤

📸- (instagram)