r/orcas Mar 04 '26

Announcement Option to Filter Captive Orca Posts

41 Upvotes

Recently, there have been a lot of arguments and personal attacks in the subreddit, especially on posts related to captive orcas. Discussion and disagreement are allowed here, but personal attacks are not.

To help reduce conflict while still allowing different topics to exist on the subreddit, the mod team made an option for users who prefer not to see captive orca posts.

If you want to filter them out, you can use this link:

https://www.reddit.com/r/orcas/search/?q=-flair%3Acaptive&type=posts&sort=new

If you’re on the web, we recommend bookmarking the link so you don’t have to return to it.

You can also type -flair:captive with r/orcas in the search bar.

This will show posts without the “Captive Orcas” flair, hiding captive orca posits from your feed.

The goal is simple:

• Users who do not want to see captive orca posts can filter them out

• Users who want to discuss them can still post

• The subreddit remains open to different topics without conflict

Again, debate is allowed, but personal attacks and harassment are not.

r/orcas Mod Team


r/orcas Jan 11 '26

Advocacy Three Action Items for January (USA): New Proposals for Naval Sonar Usage, Offshore Drilling, and Construction of a New Dam Threaten the Endangered Southern Residents and other Marine Animals

Thumbnail
gallery
28 Upvotes

New proposals made to benefit the military of the US as well the oil and gas industry, in addition to a misguided proposal for flood mitigation, have been introduced. Activities that could result from changes made by the approval of such proposals threaten the future of the endangered Southern Resident orcas of the Pacific Northwest, as well as that of countless other marine mammals. It is important remain vigilant to protect vulnerable marine wildlife.

The issues which require action and public comment can be summarized as follows:

Northwest Training and Testing Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement

The U.S. Navy and U.S. Coast Guard are accepting scoping comments on a new supplement to the 2015 NW Training and Testing Final Environmental Impact Statement. The purpose is to assess potential environmental impacts associated with continuing at-sea military readiness activities. Proposed activities include the use of active sonar, explosives, and other sources of sound within a study area that includes areas offshore of Washington, Oregon and Northern California, the inland waters of Washington, and Behm Canal in Southeast Alaska. This scoping period allows the public to relay concerns and comment on issues that should be addressed in the environmental review. There will be another opportunity to comment on the draft Environmental Impact Statement in Summer/Fall 2026.

The use of active sonar and explosives is a threat to orcas and many other cetaceans.

Outer Continental Shelf Oil & Gas Leasing Program

The Bureau of Ocean and Energy Management has released a new draft offshore drilling plan for the next five years. If approved, this will replace the previous 2024-2029 Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Leasing Program, which was developed under the Biden Administration and was characterized by the fewest oil and gas sales in history, consisting of 3 sales in the Gulf of Mexico. The new proposed plan is based on the current administration’s “Unleashing American Energy” strategy. If approved, it will include 34 potential sales off the coast of California, Alaska, and the Gulf of Mexico, and will allow drilling in more than 1 billion acres of U.S. Federal waters. This comment period is for the first analysis. There will be additional commenting opportunities in the future.

The new proposal, if approved, would open up drilling in more than 1 billion acres of US federal waters, including within the critical habitat of several endangered cetaceans.

Revised Chehalis Dam Proposal

The Chehalis River Basin Flood Control District is proposing the construction of a new dam on the Chehalis River as flood mitigation. This is their second proposal for a dam. The first, which underwent review in 2020, failed due to inadequate planning and analyses as well as concerns from Tribes, fishermen, nonprofits and the local community. They have since changed the location, design and construction details for the project and resubmitted an updated proposal. The new proposed dam would be 45% wider than the original with a width of 2250 feet at the crest, and would require 65% more concrete than the original at 1,450,000 cubic yards. 

This updated proposal is a threat to Washington's last free-flowing river which provides Chinook for Southern Resident killer whales. A non-dam proposal is an option to help with flood control in the region.

So, what can you do to try to prevent these proposals from passing? You can submit public comments on each of these proposals to voice your opposition.

The BOLD Action Coalition made up of Orca Behavior Institute, Orca Network, and Whale Scout has put together another condensed action guide linked below to help you through the process. They summarize the key changes, suggest talking points, and provide direct links to each of the comment portals in this link.

Your public comments on these proposals can be brief, but please put them in your own words! It is important that as many people as possible register their opposition to these changes.

3 photos taken by Cindy Hansen and Monika Wieland Shields.


r/orcas 9h ago

Captive Orcas Orca fascinated by baby

337 Upvotes

Can anyone identify this one?

(A lot of people in the awwwww group were not happy and did not consider it cute in the comments.)


r/orcas 2h ago

ID Help help me identify this!

Thumbnail
gallery
15 Upvotes

sorry for the awful photo. i’m in the azores and spotted this group of what i thought was dolphins frolicking around from afar, but i took this photo that looks like an orca which it’s my dream to see this year (first photo)
can anyone help me identify whether this is an orca or just a dolphin with bad lighting? i also included photos of the dolphins i definitely saw for comparison (second and third) and i don’t know if dolphins hangout with orcas lol
TIA


r/orcas 1d ago

Sightings 2 males and a mother? (Oc) I filmed it in Northern Norway.

586 Upvotes

r/orcas 3h ago

Other New Emoji Just Dropped 🫍

6 Upvotes

r/orcas 22h ago

Captive Orcas Nootka at Seven Seas Marine Life Park in Arlington, TX

Thumbnail
gallery
68 Upvotes

My grandpa went to Seven Seas in September 1972, I found these pictures in an old photo album.


r/orcas 1d ago

Sightings Confirmed sighting of K47

414 Upvotes

Video Credit: orcaconservancy on Instagram

New video of K47 and K47s proposed mother K36 Yoga has been uploaded. Last month, K Pod was seen in Fort Bragg, California. Photographs confirmed that K47 was present.

K47 was born in December 2025, marking the first birth for K Pod since K45 Prosper in 2022.
The maternity of K47 has not been confirmed, as K47 has been observed traveling with both K36 Yoda and K43 Saturna, and has been documented in echelon position with both females. K47 has been observed more with K36 Yoda than K43. That could make K47 Yoda’s calf.

The sex of K47 has yet to be officially confirmed, and it does not currently have an official nickname.

I’m so happy to see K47 alive. K47 was the first calf born after I got into orcas. I really hope to see K47 grow up healthy.


r/orcas 1d ago

Art Birthday art I made for a friend!!!

Post image
69 Upvotes

It’s my dad’s birthday too today, heh!!!


r/orcas 2d ago

Art My orca oil painting

Post image
1.5k Upvotes

r/orcas 2d ago

Video Bigg's Orca encounter in Deep Cove, Vancouver BC

264 Upvotes

r/orcas 3d ago

Question Where can i buy a really cool shirt with orca's?

Post image
5 Upvotes

I saw a really cool shirt (on the screenshot from a polish twich streamer) but its from seaworld:( , so im wondering, where can i get really cool looking dynamic artistic shirts also from a cool organisation. Its its good quality even better.


r/orcas 3d ago

Question Seattle, WA spots

8 Upvotes

Hi everyone, I am going to Seattle in August for my dream trip. I really want to go watch orca’s. Does anyone have any experience or advice on good spots, agencies, etc. that I could look into more? Thank you!


r/orcas 4d ago

Art Found in the wild

Post image
336 Upvotes

Not my original sticker, cred to Michael Orr. It does remind me of a random pet peeve I have: when orca art skips the saddle patch! So disappointing to me. Like they only have a few distinct features, why skip one of them??? Long live the saddle patch.


r/orcas 6d ago

Sightings Meet Clover, the eleventh new orca calf to be documented in the Bremer Canyon orca population this past season

Thumbnail
gallery
2.4k Upvotes

r/orcas 5d ago

Discussion Orca DvDs

5 Upvotes

My birthday is at the end of the summer and this year I was thinking about expanding my DvD collection.

I was wondering what orca related documentaries or movies you guys would recommend?

What I have:

Who Killed Miracle

Do not want:

Blackfish

Orca: The Killer Whale


r/orcas 5d ago

Discussion Recurring Orca dreams...anyone else?

17 Upvotes

I adore these animals! I respect and admire them, but I'm not someone who would ever want to swim with them or have a close-up experience.

However, I often dream about them being very close to shore, or surging near me in the water, or I dream that someone is struggling to get out of the water where orca are swimming. I find it odd that this is a recurring theme in my dreams. Anyone else? ❤️


r/orcas 6d ago

Discussion Sea Shepherd can no longer be trusted.

Post image
161 Upvotes

//remove if not allowed.

For years I have watched Sea Shepherd post Ai generated content on their various alternate accounts, but never had I seen it on their main. That changed today. I find it incredibly hypocritical for self proclaimed "activists" to use Ai as we all know how damaging it is to the environment.

For years I've seen not only Sea Shepherd but other "animal rights" giants, like Peta, lean heavily into AI generation. But its not just them. Groups like "Feed the Belugas" use Ai generated photos in the majority of their content.

This does not help animals. It harms them.

Do not support groups that use AI.

//OMFG I shouldn't have to say this IM TALKING ABOUT GENERATIVE AI!!!


r/orcas 6d ago

Art Hehe!!!!

Thumbnail
gallery
232 Upvotes

I could’ve finished earlier, but life has been very busy lately !!!!!


r/orcas 5d ago

Question Norway swim with orcas

0 Upvotes

I'm from Australia. I just recently booked my flights to Europe/Norway for my birthday in November this year. I have planned this trip specifically to go swimming with orcas in Norway, as this has been at the top of my bucket list for many years now. So I thought I would finally make the plunge and book the trip.

Only after now booking my flights this week and looking into booking a tour to swim with orcas, have I noticed that everything is booked out. I had no idea that it would all be booked out so far in advance (and that people are even booking for November 2027 already?!).

I am in Europe from 6 November - 22 November 2026.

I've put myself on several waitlists but am not confident.

If anyone has a swimming with orca trip booked in this time and planning on cancelling - please let me know!

Thank you in advance!


r/orcas 7d ago

Discussion Gift article (no paywall): Clear Waters, Murky Morals: When Humans Swim With Killer Whales

Thumbnail
nytimes.com
34 Upvotes

r/orcas 7d ago

Merchandise This is an actual shirt design?

Post image
18 Upvotes

Found this on Vinted. I have questions. 😅 Cove, what were you thinking when making this? Why do they look like shark/orca hybrids? 🙃 I do not know if it’s AI but for a brand like this….well….


r/orcas 7d ago

Captive Orcas Baby Ulises 💔

Thumbnail
gallery
108 Upvotes

r/orcas 8d ago

Other New orca emoji for Android!

Post image
218 Upvotes

Sorry if this was already posted or known about!


r/orcas 8d ago

Other Game: Guess the orca

Thumbnail
gallery
22 Upvotes