Home › Mammalia › Delphinidae › Orca (Orcinus orca)
SPECIES PROFILE
Orca (Orcinus orca)
Orcinus
IUCN STATUS
Endangered
CONSERVATION STATUS
Endangered
CLASS
Mammalia
GEOGRAPHICAL RANGE
Found in all oceans; BC's Southern Resident population ranges from Puget Sound north to Johnstone Strait
DIET
Carnivore
HABITAT
Coastal Pacific waters, fjords, and inlets of the BC coast
🔬 Classification
PHYLUM
Chordata
CLASS
Mammalia
ORDER
Cetacea
FAMILY
Delphinidae
GENUS
Orcinus
📋 Description
SIZE
Males 6–8 m, up to 5,400 kg; females 5–7 m
COLORATION
Striking black-and-white with a white eye patch and grey saddle patch behind the tall dorsal fin
ADAPTATIONS
Echolocation for hunting; complex pod dialects; cooperative hunting strategies
🌿 Ecology
HABITAT
Coastal Pacific waters, fjords, and inlets of the BC coast
DIET
Carnivore
GEOGRAPHIC RANGE
Found in all oceans; BC's Southern Resident population ranges from Puget Sound north to Johnstone Strait
REPRODUCTION
Females give birth every 3–10 years after a 17-month gestation; calves remain with their natal pod for life
DIET DETAILS
Southern Residents specialise almost exclusively on Chinook salmon; transient Orcas hunt marine mammals including seals and porpoises
⚠️ Threats & Conservation
PRIMARY THREATS
Prey depletion from Chinook salmon decline; vessel noise and disturbance; toxic contaminants accumulating in blubber
💡 Interesting Facts
1
Orcas live in matrilineal pods led by the oldest female; cultural knowledge such as feeding techniques is passed down through generations.
2
The Southern Resident population is listed under Canada's Species at Risk Act; acoustic pollution from shipping is a major recovery challenge.
🔭 Sighting Guide
📍 BEST PLACES TO SIGHT
Johnstone Strait near Port McNeill, BC, offers reliable summer Orca sightings from kayak or boat
Salish Sea near Victoria, BC, is patrolled by Southern Resident pods throughout summer
Clayoquot Sound near Tofino, BC, provides offshore encounters with transient Orcas
🗓️ BEST TIME TO SIGHT
Summer. Southern Resident pods forage in the Salish Sea near Victoria and San Juan Islands from May to September.
🎯 SIGHTING TIPS
Join a licensed whale watching vessel from Victoria or Campbell River between May and September for the most reliable sightings.
