It is no unknown fact that Canadian orca whales are known for their high swim speed and hunting skills, but what is their daily life, how do they interact with each other, and how has human interaction endangered them?

 

To begin, where are orcas in Canada, and how do they live? Weighing in at three to four thousand kilograms, these colossal beasts can easily dominate all three oceans encircling Canada. Typically, these whales roam around British Columbia in the Pacific Ocean, yet due to the effects of climate change, they have been found more frequently in the Arctic and Atlantic waters.  To add, killer whales do not live in solitude since most live in groups and collaborate to solve different obstacles. For example, Orcas in some colder regions will use their collective force to form waves that knock seals off icebergs to facilitate hunting. Moreover, the orcas demonstrate their collaborative skill sets with their whale calls, which may change based on mood, personality, and diet. This diet often includes diverse fish and marine mammals such as narwhals, belugas, and salmon.

 

However, despite being the ocean’s natural apex predator, there remains another animal that can threaten these creatures. Humans. Whether it is pollution or overhunting, human industries affect the entire lifecycle of an orca with or without knowing. To illustrate, some industries will overfish the orca’s main prey, sockeye salmon, and contaminants from pollution that may cause damage to the animal’s immune and reproductive systems. Due to all these factors, the Canadian southern resident orca population is now at 74, and the northern resident population remains at 332.

 

Yet, is all hope lost for the orca whale population? Not if humanity has something to do with it. Across Canada, multiple efforts are being taken to increase the killer whale population such as the regulation of sockeye salmon overfishing. If you want to make an impact, donate to the Canadian Orca Rescue Society, spread awareness, or inform yourself about other initiatives. Similar to orcas, we can make a small difference alone, but it is all the more powerful when we make one in unity.