Killer Whales

A pod of orcas surfaces in Chatham Sound near Prince Rupert, B.C., Friday, June 22, 2018. Researchers say British Columbia’s southern resident killer whales are not only threatened by the decline of the general salmon population but also the reduction in high-quality fatty salmon, the whales’ preferred meal. THE CANADIAN PRESS Jonathan Hayward

B.C. study links killer whale decline to lack of energy-rich fatty salmon

UBC scientists find that all salmon are not created equal when it comes to being a food source

 

An orca is shown breaching near Brockton Point in Stanley Park in Vancouver on Friday, Feb. 10, 2023.The image was caught by wildlife photographer Frank Lin while he was surveying for seabirds with a volunteer team. Scientists say orca pods are appearing in urban waters in higher frequency with harbour seals - one of the orcas’ primary food sources - congregating near cities. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Frank Lin, @fylegend21 on Instagram

Bird photographer captures stunning image of an orca in flight off Stanley Park

Observers say the appearance of transient orcas near Vancouver will become more frequent

 

Killer whales often come and visit Neroutsos Inlet near Port Alice. (Regan Hickling photo)

Eyewitnesses report rare killer whale attack on a humpback off B.C. coast

Researcher: about 60 whale-on-whale interactions on record, none resulting in a confirmed death

  • Feb 2, 2023

 

A group fishing off Greater Victoria had a once-in-a-lifetime encounter with a trio of young orcas on Jan. 17. (Courtesy Craig Twidale)

VIDEO: Young orcas caught showboating off Greater Victoria

Group fishing near Race Rocks films rare encounter with killer whales

A group fishing off Greater Victoria had a once-in-a-lifetime encounter with a trio of young orcas on Jan. 17. (Courtesy Craig Twidale)
A Bigg’s killer whale preys on a minke whale in the waters off Washington State’s Smith Island in October 2022. (Courtesy of the Pacific Whale Watch Association)

278 days of killer whale sightings last year in the Salish Sea

Agencies document 1,066 protective interventions by whale-watching crews in 2022

A Bigg’s killer whale preys on a minke whale in the waters off Washington State’s Smith Island in October 2022. (Courtesy of the Pacific Whale Watch Association)
Blake and Morgan Belton had some surprise visitors as they exchanged their wedding vows on Quadra Island. Photo courtesy With Love Photography

Orca pod crashes Quadra Island wedding

‘That’s a pretty good good way to start your marriage off’ — wedding videographer

Blake and Morgan Belton had some surprise visitors as they exchanged their wedding vows on Quadra Island. Photo courtesy With Love Photography
A Bigg’s (transient) killer whale preys on a minke whale in the waters off Washington State’s Smith Island on Oct. 7. (Courtesy of the Pacific Whale Watch Association)

Transient orcas team up to hunt minke whale near Victoria

Whale watch group says the adult minke likely among the local seasonal population

A Bigg’s (transient) killer whale preys on a minke whale in the waters off Washington State’s Smith Island on Oct. 7. (Courtesy of the Pacific Whale Watch Association)
A young southern resident killer whale (left), shown in a handout photo, spotted swimming in the waters off the west side of Vancouver Island now has a name. The Center for Whale Research based in Washington state says it has dubbed the latest addition to K Pod as K45 after staff spotted it in a tight group with other family members northeast of Race Rocks on Saturday. CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Centre for Whale Research

Researchers name newest baby orca spotted off Vancouver Island

K45 is K Pod’s first baby since 2011

A young southern resident killer whale (left), shown in a handout photo, spotted swimming in the waters off the west side of Vancouver Island now has a name. The Center for Whale Research based in Washington state says it has dubbed the latest addition to K Pod as K45 after staff spotted it in a tight group with other family members northeast of Race Rocks on Saturday. CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Centre for Whale Research
A young southern resident killer whale (left), shown in a handout photo, spotted swimming in the waters off the west side of Vancouver Island now has a name. The Center for Whale Research based in Washington state says it has dubbed the latest addition to K Pod as K45 after staff spotted it in a tight group with other family members northeast of Race Rocks on Saturday. CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Centre for Whale Research

Researchers name newest baby orca spotted in B.C. waters

K45 is K Pod’s first baby since 2011

A young southern resident killer whale (left), shown in a handout photo, spotted swimming in the waters off the west side of Vancouver Island now has a name. The Center for Whale Research based in Washington state says it has dubbed the latest addition to K Pod as K45 after staff spotted it in a tight group with other family members northeast of Race Rocks on Saturday. CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Centre for Whale Research
A southern resident killer whale. Credit: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Ocean Wise.

B.C. study finds endangered southern resident killer whales aren’t getting enough to eat

UBC researchers find the orcas haven’t been eating enough since 2018, sea lions partly to blame

A southern resident killer whale. Credit: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Ocean Wise.
An orca hunts a seal near Campbell River. Photos by Sheree Adams

Orca hunting seals off B.C. turns into a ‘once in a lifetime event’ for photographer

Campbell River shore watchers get a rare up-close look at hunting orcas in action

An orca hunts a seal near Campbell River. Photos by Sheree Adams
Measures have returned to protect southern resident killer whales in B.C. waters. (Black Press Media file photo)

Added measures return to protect B.C.’s southern resident killer whales

Transport Canada has announced a host of actions

Measures have returned to protect southern resident killer whales in B.C. waters. (Black Press Media file photo)
T63 Chainsaw was one of the Bigg’s killer whales spotted in large clusters Thursday. Chainsaw is known for its jagged dorsal fin. (Photo courtesy Valerie Messier/Pacific Whale Watch Association; video courtesy of Maxx Kinert)

VIDEO: New record, Victoria expert says 72 whales spotted the most in one day

Clusters seen between Hood Canal in Puget Sound, Campbell River on Vancouver Island

T63 Chainsaw was one of the Bigg’s killer whales spotted in large clusters Thursday. Chainsaw is known for its jagged dorsal fin. (Photo courtesy Valerie Messier/Pacific Whale Watch Association; video courtesy of Maxx Kinert)
T63 Chainsaw was one of the Bigg’s killer whales spotted in large clusters Thursday. Chainsaw is known for its jagged dorsal fin. (Photo courtesy Valerie Messier/Pacific Whale Watch Association; video courtesy of Maxx Kinert)

VIDEO: New record, Victoria expert says 72 whales spotted the most in one day

Clusters seen between Hood Canal in Puget Sound, Campbell River on Vancouver Island

T63 Chainsaw was one of the Bigg’s killer whales spotted in large clusters Thursday. Chainsaw is known for its jagged dorsal fin. (Photo courtesy Valerie Messier/Pacific Whale Watch Association; video courtesy of Maxx Kinert)
Researchers aboard the vessel Noctiluca monitor southern resident killer whale behavior. (Photo courtesy of Northwest Fisheries Science Center/North Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Fisheries)

U.S.-based review emphasizes uncertain future for southern resident killer whales

Boat proximity, food source decline, pollution listed as threats to group, now numbering 73

Researchers aboard the vessel Noctiluca monitor southern resident killer whale behavior. (Photo courtesy of Northwest Fisheries Science Center/North Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Fisheries)
A stand up paddleboarder kneels as a pod of transient orcas put on a dramatic show on Jan. 19, 2020 in the Ucluelet Harbour. (Westerly file photo)

DFO wraps up probe into paddleboarder’s controversial 2021 B.C. orca encounter

After a year-long investigation, DFO has handed the file off to Crown counsel

A stand up paddleboarder kneels as a pod of transient orcas put on a dramatic show on Jan. 19, 2020 in the Ucluelet Harbour. (Westerly file photo)
The most recent Bigg’s killer whale calf, T124A7, breaches the water alongside three adult members of the pod. (Karac Lindsay/Eagle Wing Tours, courtesy of Pacific Whale Watch Association)

2021 brought record sightings, many newborn whale calves to Greater Victoria waters

Whale researchers report 21 new humpback calves in the Salish Sea

The most recent Bigg’s killer whale calf, T124A7, breaches the water alongside three adult members of the pod. (Karac Lindsay/Eagle Wing Tours, courtesy of Pacific Whale Watch Association)
The Royal BC Museum exhibit on orcas immerses visitors in the world of whales. (Photo by Shane Lighter/Royal BC Museum)

Royal BC Museum extends orca exhibit, implements vaccine requirement

Splashy feature exhibit will stay in town for a few more months

The Royal BC Museum exhibit on orcas immerses visitors in the world of whales. (Photo by Shane Lighter/Royal BC Museum)
L47 (Marina) pictured with her youngest male offspring, L115 (Mystic) in 2011. (Courtesy of the Center for Whale Research)

Salish Sea southern resident killer whale population now 73 after matriarch’s death

47-year-old orca Marina leaves three surviving offspring, two in next generation

L47 (Marina) pictured with her youngest male offspring, L115 (Mystic) in 2011. (Courtesy of the Center for Whale Research)
A Bigg’s killer whale seemingly defying gravity near Victoria, BC (Photo by Paul Pudwell/Sooke Coastal Explorations)

Nearly 30 Bigg’s orcas observed over long weekend in Salish Sea waters off Victoria

Annual sightings record set for transient orcas known as the ‘wolves of the seas’

A Bigg’s killer whale seemingly defying gravity near Victoria, BC (Photo by Paul Pudwell/Sooke Coastal Explorations)