ORCA CONSERVATION

Save the Orcas has funded and supported by our members, with the shared aim of conserving, studying, and safeguarding the wild orca population.

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) currently classifies the orca's worldwide conservation status as Data Deficient; in recognition of one or more orca sub-populations potentially being endangered. It is of concern that certain specific local populations are considered threatened or endangered – for example, in 2005, the resident orca inhabiting British Columbia and Washington state waters were placed on the US Endangered Species list.

WANT TO HELP SAVE ORCA?

Efforts are needed to protect wild orca and with your generous support, we can continue our work and counteract the threats which could lead to a decline in populations.

Throughout the world countless orca, as well as dolphins and whales, are exploited in marine parks and ‘swim with’ tourist attractions, but you can help protect wild orcas.

Captured from the Wild

Many captive orcas were born and bred in captivity, but this was not always the case. Beginning the in the 1960s, orcas have been caught for entertainment display. One of the most infamous was the mass capture in Penn Cove, Washington. On August 8, 1970, a total of seven whales were taken from L pod (one of the resident orca pods), while 5 died in the process. Among the captures, Lolita (Tokitae) is the last remaining survivor.

The Icelandic coast has also been the site of orca captures in the 1970s and 1980s, with Tilikum and Keiko (of Free Willy fame) being some of the more notable captives. Even today, orcas are still being wild-caught in Russian waters for sale to marine parks in Russia and China as their captive markets continue to grow in popularity.

Orcas In Captivity

Research on wild orcas has demonstrated their tremendous intelligence and complexity. Captivity removes them from their natural environment, separates them from their close-knit families, and deprives them of all natural behaviors.

It is not uncommon for orcas to live 70 years or more in the wild. The world’s oldest known orca, nicknamed “Granny” was estimated to be over 100 years old at the time of her death in January 2017. Captive orcas not only show aggression to humans, but also amongst themselves. They are also susceptible to a wide range of illnesses.

Aggressive Behavior

While there are virtually no documented attacks of humans by orcas in the wild, in captivity there have been four deaths and numerous other “incidents”. Tilikum, of Blackfish fame, was deemed responsible for three of those deaths. While it is impossible to say why these acts take place, the stress of captivity is thought to play a significant role.

Captive orcas also display aggression towards each other, as well as self-destructive behavior. Rake marks and injuries inflicted are often observed on captive orcas, while it is also well-documented that captive marine mammals engage in harmful stereotypic behaviors such as gnawing on tank walls or gates.

Tilikum, the killer whale

Tilikum, or Tilly, was a male captive orca who gained infamy as a killer whale responsible for the deaths of three humans, Keltie Byrne, Daniel Dukes, and Dawn Brancheau. Captured in waters off Iceland, Tilikum was sent to Sealand of the Pacific, a now defunct marine park near Victoria, Canada, where he was routinely bullied by his tankmates. After killing trainer Keltie Byrne, Tilikum would be transferred to SeaWorld Orlando, where he would ultimately kill two more people. After the death of Brancheau in 2010, Tilikum spent much of his time in isolation away from trainers and other whales. The largest male orca in captivity, Tilikum was easily identified by his collapsed dorsal fin. After a prolonged illness due to treatment-resistant bacterial infection, Tilikum died in January of 2017.

Lolita, the Loneliest Orca

Lolita, also known as Tokitae, is the final surviving orca of the Penn Cove capture of 1970. A Southern Resident orca from L-pod, Lolita has been living in a substandard tank (one that violates Animal Welfare Act standards) at Miami Seaquarium for almost 50 years. She has not seen a fellow orca since 1980, when her tankmate Hugo died from self-inflicted wounds. Her current dolphin tankmates routinely show aggression.

During Hurricane Irma in 2017, Dolphin Project obtained video footage showing that Lolita had been left in her tank unprotected, to ride out the storm.

As a Southern Resident orca, Lolita and her family members are protected under the Endangered Species Act, yet she has been afforded no protections under the law. When played the calls of her pod, Lolita still recognized and responded to the sounds.

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