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Marine Mammals Panel

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This panel focuses on some of the marine life surrounding Vancouver Island with details on their habits.

Killer Whale or Orca (Orcinus orca). Orcas are the largest member of the dolphin family, easy identified by their large dorsal fins and distinctive black and white pattern. In British Columbia, there are three sub-species of Orcas: Residents, Transients and Offshore.

There are two populations of resident Orcas in British Columbia; the southern and northern residents. The southern population ranges between Campbell River and Puget Sound. Resident Orcas travel and live together in matrilineal pods of between 4 and 12 whales. They are generally very vocal: each group has distinctive, identifiable calls. They feed primarily on fish, especially salmon.

Transient Orcas do not have established territories, and they feed primarily on marine mammals. They travel in silent small groups of two to six animals, so they can successfully hunt their prey. The name “Killer Whale” comes from this type of Orca, which is the only species of whale that kills other whales.