Here is yet another story to remind us how little we understand about orcas, also known as killer whales. We are still scratching our heads over why Iberian orcas attack sailboats near Gibraltar or why orcas off South Africa attack … Continue reading
The good news is that a pod of orcas trapped by drift ice in waters off Japan’s northern island of Hokkaido appears to have successfully escaped. Earlier this week, drone footage showed the pod of around a dozen orcas trapped … Continue reading
Recently, Bertie Gregory, a National Geographic Explorer and host of Animals Up Close on Disney+, observed a remarkable attempt by two humpback whales to protect a seal under attack by a pod of orcas in Antarctica’s Weddell Sea. National Geographic reports that … Continue reading
For the last several years, we have been posting about orca attacks on yachts and fishing boats in the Strait of Gibraltar and the Iberian peninsula. Pods of orcas have been ramming sailboats and often grabbing their rudders and keels, … Continue reading
Orca attacks on sailboats off the Strait of Gibraltar and the Iberian Peninsula continue. Janet Morris and Stephen Bidwell from Cambridge told The Sunday Times that on May 2, on the second day of training for their week-long sailing course … Continue reading
Since 2020, juvenile orcas within pods that feed on migrating tuna traveling through the Strait of Gibraltar and around the Iberian Peninsula, have taken to bumping and ramming the hulls of small yachts and damaging rudders. In the last several … Continue reading
Over the last five years, a macabre mystery has been playing out on the South African coast. The carcasses of great white sharks have been washing ashore on local beaches with their bellies ripped open and their livers missing. What … Continue reading
Some sailors along Spain’s Galician coast must be saying “we’re gonna need a bigger boat.” There have been reports of up to 30 attacks by orcas directed at sailboats on the northwestern coast of Spain and Portugal. Now, the Spanish … Continue reading
Another 2020 story. Despite being dubbed killer whales, orcas in the wild have a long history of not attacking humans and rarely attacking boats. [Edited — see note at the end of the post.] (The situation with orcas in captivity … Continue reading
Recently, biologist Nan Hauser was snorkeling in the Cook Islands in the South Pacific, when she was approached by a humpback whale. The whale nudged her forward with its closed mouth, tucked her under its pectoral fin, and even maneuvered … Continue reading
Granny is dead. In August of last year, we posted Orca “Granny,” 105 Years Old, Still Swimming the Pacific about the oldest member of the ” J” pod of Puget Sound orcas, and also the known living orca. Sadly, in … Continue reading
In just three years since the release of the documentary, Blackfish, the world of captive orcs in the United States has undergone dramatic change. The 2013 documentary focused specifically on the death of an orca trainer, Dawn Brancheau, who was killed by … Continue reading
However your Monday may be going, this over one minute video can’t but help make it better. Beautiful Orcas and Humpback Whales Breach in Front on The Explore Camera – Live Camera Highlight To see more go to Explore.org. … Continue reading
SeaWorld tragedy — a reminder of why orcas should swim free? For wildlife conservationists, the tragic death of SeaWorld trainer Dawn Brancheau is a sobering reminder of why creatures as large and majestic as killer whales simply should not live in … Continue reading
Two only slightly related items : “An orca baby boom” in Washington State following a year that saw a decline in the number of orcas in the southern resident pods, and a very funny, if highly offensive, episode of South … Continue reading