Orca Week

01/04/2026

ORCAS of CHANNEL ISLANDS, CA
CA122Ds were spotted near northern Channel Islands by Pacific Offshore Expeditions (POE) during their dedicated “Orca Quest”.
California Killer Whale Project

12/31/2025

GOODBYE 2025, HELLO 2026
A Very Happy New Year To All Orca Lovers, Globally!!
Photo: J6 (Ralph) b. 1956 d. 1998 | taken by Ken Balcomb.
via Orca Conservancy

As we close out 2025, I want to thank each of you for being part of the Orca Conservancy community and for standing with us through a demanding and consequential year.

2025 tested the strength of our organization, our resolve, and our commitment to the recovery of Southern Resident killer whales and the Salish Sea ecosystem they depend on. It required focus, discipline, and at times difficult conversations. I’m grateful to be on the other side of that work and firmly oriented toward what comes next.

Orca Conservancy has always been more than an organization to me. It is a mission-driven movement grounded in science, advocacy, and action, one that insists endangered species recovery must be guided by evidence, integrity, and long-term stewardship.

As we continue to grow and professionalize our operations, our priorities remain unchanged: protecting Southern Resident killer whales, restoring salmon habitat, and holding institutions accountable to the laws and science meant to safeguard our shared environment.

Looking ahead to 2026, I am deeply encouraged by the opportunities before us. From expanding our research and monitoring efforts, to advancing habitat restoration, to strengthening policy advocacy, the coming year will be about building durable solutions that can withstand political shifts and ecological uncertainty.

Thank you for your trust, your support, and your belief in our work. The challenges are real, but so is the momentum we are building together.

Shari Tarantino
Executive Director
Orca Conservancy

Photo: J6 (Ralph) b. 1956 d. 1998 | taken by Ken Balcomb

12/26/2025

ORCAS SURFING ON CHRISTMAS
Christmas with the Orcas. Read the full story here: https://buff.ly/PvMiZ55 photo by Krisztina Balotay

Christmas with the Orcas. Read the full story here: https://buff.ly/PvMiZ55
This is an encounter from 2019
Photo by Krisztina Balotay Photo / Orca Channel

12/23/2025

Watching Orcas Peacefully Play in Far Away Norway. (turn on sound). Norwegian Orca Survey

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