Orca

A Biggs calf was seen near the T46B2 pod of killer whales on Dec. 5. They are born orange, which is a mystery to scientists. (Eagle Wing Tours/Tomis Filipovic)

Scientists rejoice as new Biggs killer whale calf seen in Salish Sea

The new calf will join a curious, matriarchal pod

 

Photo by Orca Network

Toxin pockets along B.C. coast raising red flags for salmon and orcas

High levels of mercury, cadmium, lead and copper in critical habitats compounding concern

 

Bigg’s orcas identified by Comox Valley Wildlife Sightings as T049A1, T124s and T090s were spotted hunting off Point Holmes and Kye Bay earlier this year. (File photo by Ella Smiley/Comox Valley Wildlife sightings)

‘Bigg’ month for orca sightings off Vancouver Island

With 2 months still to go, 2023 already setting record for Bigg’s sightings in a year

 

Southern resident killer whale K34 has not been seen during the Center for Whale Research’s last three encounters with K Pod. (Center for Whale Research/Facebook)

Waters off Vancouver Island being watched for missing orca

Missing orca most likely dead but whale groups still holding out hope

Southern resident killer whale K34 has not been seen during the Center for Whale Research’s last three encounters with K Pod. (Center for Whale Research/Facebook)
In this photo provided by biologist and wildlife advocate Kersti Muul, people watch a whale swimming by a Seattle’s Lincoln Park, on April, 2021. Muul created a Salish Wildlife Watch, a WhatsApp group chat that alerts people to when whales are in the area, prompting many people to race to shorelines to try to catch a glimpse of the giant marine mammals. (Kersti Muul via AP)

In Seattle, phones ding. Killer whales could be close.

Salish Wildlife Watch, a WhatsApp group chat, alerts its 1,800 members when orcas are near

In this photo provided by biologist and wildlife advocate Kersti Muul, people watch a whale swimming by a Seattle’s Lincoln Park, on April, 2021. Muul created a Salish Wildlife Watch, a WhatsApp group chat that alerts people to when whales are in the area, prompting many people to race to shorelines to try to catch a glimpse of the giant marine mammals. (Kersti Muul via AP)
Campbell River’s Discovery Pier, Friday, July 14, 2023. Photo by Alistair Taylor/Campbell River Mirror

VIDEO: Pod of orcas, including calves, swarm Vancouver Island pier

A group of people who got the thrill of a lifetime July 10

Campbell River’s Discovery Pier, Friday, July 14, 2023. Photo by Alistair Taylor/Campbell River Mirror
Killer whales surface in Chatham Sound near Prince Rupert, B.C., Friday, June, 22, 2018. British Columbia’s southern resident killer whales are increasingly suffering from skin diseases that leave large blotches on their distinctive black-and-white colouration, new research says. THE CANADIAN PRESS Jonathan Hayward

Skin lesions on endangered killer whales are getting worse, study says

Scientists hypothesize it could be an indicator of the whales’ declining ability to fend off illness

Killer whales surface in Chatham Sound near Prince Rupert, B.C., Friday, June, 22, 2018. British Columbia’s southern resident killer whales are increasingly suffering from skin diseases that leave large blotches on their distinctive black-and-white colouration, new research says. THE CANADIAN PRESS Jonathan Hayward
In a image from video provided by The Ocean Race, an orca moves along a rudder of the Team JAJO entry in The Ocean Race on Thursday, June 22, 2023, as the boat approached the Strait of Gibraltar. A pod of killer whales bumped one of the boats in an endurance sailing race, the latest encounter in what researchers say is a growing trend of sometimes-aggressive interactions with Iberian orcas. No one was injured. (The Ocean Race via AP)

Orcas disrupt boat race near Spain in latest display of dangerous, puzzling behavior

The 15-min run-in with at least 3 orcas forced the crew competing to drop its sails, raise a clatter

In a image from video provided by The Ocean Race, an orca moves along a rudder of the Team JAJO entry in The Ocean Race on Thursday, June 22, 2023, as the boat approached the Strait of Gibraltar. A pod of killer whales bumped one of the boats in an endurance sailing race, the latest encounter in what researchers say is a growing trend of sometimes-aggressive interactions with Iberian orcas. No one was injured. (The Ocean Race via AP)
Researchers believe the young whale, pictured here off Tofino on June 19, is a newborn belonging to L-pod. (Courtesy of Howie Tom)

Orca newborn seen off Tofino believed to be pod’s first calf in years

Researchers say the calf was seen swimming with L-pod this month

Researchers believe the young whale, pictured here off Tofino on June 19, is a newborn belonging to L-pod. (Courtesy of Howie Tom)
A lone killer whale breaks the water in a Comox, B.C., harbour on Tuesday July 31, 2018.Transport Canada has announced several new measures, ranging from sanctuary zones to fishing closures, as it works to protect critically endangered southern resident killer whales off the British Columbia coast. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jen Osborne

Protected areas, fishing bans to help B.C.’s threatened southern resident orcas

Federal government announces series of measures off B.C. south coast

A lone killer whale breaks the water in a Comox, B.C., harbour on Tuesday July 31, 2018.Transport Canada has announced several new measures, ranging from sanctuary zones to fishing closures, as it works to protect critically endangered southern resident killer whales off the British Columbia coast. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jen Osborne
In this July 31, 2015, file photo, an orca whale breaches in view of Mount Baker, some 60 miles distant, in the Salish Sea in the San Juan Islands, Washington State. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Elaine Thompson

Florida aquarium returning Lolita the orca to the Salish Sea after 53 years in tank

Lolita, 57, is part of the endangered southern resident killer whales pod

In this July 31, 2015, file photo, an orca whale breaches in view of Mount Baker, some 60 miles distant, in the Salish Sea in the San Juan Islands, Washington State. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Elaine Thompson
FILE - Southern Resident killer whale J50 and her mother, J16, swim off the west coast of Vancouver Island near Port Renfrew, B.C. on Aug. 7, 2018. (Brian Gisborne/Fisheries and Oceans Canada via AP, File)

Researchers: Inbreeding a big problem for endangered orcas

Whales are so inbred that they are dying younger and their population is not recovering

FILE - Southern Resident killer whale J50 and her mother, J16, swim off the west coast of Vancouver Island near Port Renfrew, B.C. on Aug. 7, 2018. (Brian Gisborne/Fisheries and Oceans Canada via AP, File)
A Fisheries and Oceans Canada boat practicing using their oikomi pipes to deter marine life during the fuel spill response to a sunken fishing boat on August 25, 2022. (Courtesy of NOAA Northwest Fishers Science Centre)

Coordinated response helped protect orcas during fuel spill off Victoria: NOAA

U.S. and Canadian agencies worked together to deter orcas from the affected areas

A Fisheries and Oceans Canada boat practicing using their oikomi pipes to deter marine life during the fuel spill response to a sunken fishing boat on August 25, 2022. (Courtesy of NOAA Northwest Fishers Science Centre)
Southern resident J-pod orcas were spotted challenging the currents in Dodd Narrows off Joan Point Park around mid-day on Feb. 14. (Submitted photo)

J-pod killer whales swim against the current at Nanaimo’s Dodd Narrows

Runner captures video of southern resident orcas from Cable Bay Trail on Feb. 14

Southern resident J-pod orcas were spotted challenging the currents in Dodd Narrows off Joan Point Park around mid-day on Feb. 14. (Submitted photo)
Killer whales are shown in Chatham Sound near Prince Rupert, B.C., Friday, June, 22, 2018. The endangered southern resident killer whale population suffered more loss with one of the orcas possibly dying of cancer, says an expert. THE CANADIAN PRESS Jonathan Hayward

B.C. orca mothers pay a higher price for birthing sons than daughters: study

Having a male orca can cut a mother’s future childbearing success in half, researchers found

Killer whales are shown in Chatham Sound near Prince Rupert, B.C., Friday, June, 22, 2018. The endangered southern resident killer whale population suffered more loss with one of the orcas possibly dying of cancer, says an expert. THE CANADIAN PRESS Jonathan Hayward
A UBC study examining orca bodies found between 2006 and 2018 has found a number of concerning chemicals inside them, including in endangered southern resident killer whales (pictured). (Credit: Paul Cottrell, DFO)

Toxic chemicals from B.C.’s sewage are making their way inside orcas, UBC study finds

Compound in toilet paper can influence cognitive function, say researchers

A UBC study examining orca bodies found between 2006 and 2018 has found a number of concerning chemicals inside them, including in endangered southern resident killer whales (pictured). (Credit: Paul Cottrell, DFO)
Orcas at play outside the Oak Bay Beach Hotel on Aug. 28. (Oak Bay Beach Hotel/Instagram)

Orcas at play keep residents watching waters off Oak Bay

Share your images and videos, email editor@oakbaynews.com

Orcas at play outside the Oak Bay Beach Hotel on Aug. 28. (Oak Bay Beach Hotel/Instagram)
Orcas feed amongst the activity of beach-goers at Nanaimo’s Departure Bay on Saturday, Aug. 20. (Photo courtesy Lori Jones)

‘Festival atmosphere’: Orcas feast in Nanaimo’s Departure Bay

Hundreds of people line the beach to watch Bigg’s killer whales

Orcas feed amongst the activity of beach-goers at Nanaimo’s Departure Bay on Saturday, Aug. 20. (Photo courtesy Lori Jones)
Partner response agencies have deployed about 2,100 feet of absorbent booms in the waters between Greater Victoria and San Juan Island since a fishing boat sank and leaked fuel on Aug, 13. (U.S. Coast Guard Pacific Northwest/Twitter)

Fuel-leaking fishing boat falls deeper, complicating response near Victoria

Endangered orcas still headed in opposite direction of spill

Partner response agencies have deployed about 2,100 feet of absorbent booms in the waters between Greater Victoria and San Juan Island since a fishing boat sank and leaked fuel on Aug, 13. (U.S. Coast Guard Pacific Northwest/Twitter)
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