Editing Orca (section)

==Conservation==
[[File:TypeC orca cape.JPG|thumb|right|The "type C" orca has two-toned grey colouring, including a dark "dorsal cape", in body areas where most orcas have solid black colouring. Research is ongoing into whether one or more orca types are distinct species in need of protection.|alt=Killer whale forges through small ice floes. Its back is dark from the head to just behind the dorsal fin, where there is a light grey saddle patch. Behind this, and on its lower side, its skin is an intermediate shade.]]
In 2008, the [[IUCN]] (International Union for Conservation of Nature) changed its assessment of the orca's [[conservation status]] from [[conservation dependent]] to [[data deficient]], recognizing that one or more orca types may actually be separate, [[endangered species]].<ref name="iucn status 19 November 2021" /> [[overfishing|Depletion of prey species]], [[Marine pollution|pollution]], large-scale [[oil spill]]s, and [[Disturbance (ecology)|habitat disturbance]] caused by noise and conflicts with boats are the most significant worldwide threats.<ref name="iucn status 19 November 2021" /> In January 2020, the first orca in England and Wales since 2001 was found dead with a large fragment of plastic in its stomach.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-norfolk-51108830|title=First stranded Orca found in almost 20 years in the Wash|date=January 14, 2020|website=BBC News|url-status=live|archive-date=January 16, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200116204509/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-norfolk-51108830}}</ref>

Like other animals at the highest [[trophic level]]s, the orca is particularly at risk of poisoning from [[bioaccumulation]] of toxins, including [[Polychlorinated biphenyl]]s (PCBs).{{sfn|Ford|Ellis|Balcomb|2000|p=99}} European [[harbour seal]]s have problems in reproductive and immune functions associated with high levels of PCBs and related contaminants, and a survey off the [[Washington (state)|Washington]] coast found PCB levels in orcas were higher than levels that had caused health problems in harbour seals.{{sfn|Ford|Ellis|Balcomb|2000|p=99}} Blubber samples in the [[Arctic Norway|Norwegian Arctic]] show higher levels of PCBs, pesticides and [[brominated flame-retardant]]s than in [[polar bear]]s. A 2018 study published in ''[[Science (journal)|Science]]'' found that global orca populations are poised to dramatically decline due such toxic pollution.<ref>{{cite news |last=Carrington |first=Damian |date=September 27, 2018 |title=Orca 'apocalypse': half of killer whales doomed to die from pollution |url=https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/sep/27/orca-apocalypse-half-of-killer-whales-doomed-to-die-from-pollution |work=The Guardian |access-date=September 28, 2018 |archive-date=September 28, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180928005643/https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/sep/27/orca-apocalypse-half-of-killer-whales-doomed-to-die-from-pollution |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|last1=Desforges|first1=J-P|last2=Hall|first2=A|last3=Mcconnell|first3=B|display-authors=etal|year=2018|title=Predicting global killer whale population collapse from PCB pollution|journal=Science|volume=361|issue=6409|pages=1373–1376|doi=10.1126/science.aat1953|pmid=30262502 |bibcode=2018Sci...361.1373D |hdl=10023/16189 |s2cid=52876312 |hdl-access=free}}</ref>

In the [[Pacific Northwest]], wild salmon stocks, a main resident food source, have declined dramatically in recent years.<ref name="iucn status 19 November 2021" /> In the [[Puget Sound]] region, only 75 whales remain with few births over the last few years.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/09/science/orcas-whales-endangered.html?rref=collection/sectioncollection/science&action=click&contentCollection=science&region=rank&module=package&version=highlights&contentPlacement=1&pgtype=sectionfront|title=Orcas of the Pacific Northwest Are Starving and Disappearing|newspaper=The New York Times |date=July 9, 2018 |access-date=July 9, 2018|language=en|archive-date=July 10, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180710011739/https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/09/science/orcas-whales-endangered.html?rref=collection%2Fsectioncollection%2Fscience&action=click&contentCollection=science&region=rank&module=package&version=highlights&contentPlacement=1&pgtype=sectionfront|url-status=live|last1=Robbins |first1=Jim }}</ref> On the west coast of Alaska and the [[Aleutian Islands]], seal and sea lion populations have also substantially declined.{{sfn|Ford|Ellis|Balcomb|2000|p=98}}

In 2005, the United States government listed the [[southern resident killer whales|southern resident]] community as an endangered population under the [[Endangered Species Act]].<ref name=noaa/> This community comprises three pods which live mostly in the [[Strait of Georgia|Georgia]] and [[Haro Straits]] and [[Puget Sound]] in [[British Columbia]] and Washington. They do not breed outside of their community, which was once estimated at 200 animals and later shrank to around 90.<ref name=Lyke>{{cite news|first=M. L.|last= Lyke|url=http://www.seattlepi.com/specials/brokenpromises/288674_granny614.html|title= Granny's Struggle: When Granny is gone, will her story be the last chapter?|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200915041546/https://www.seattlepi.com/news/article/Granny-s-Struggle-When-Granny-is-gone-will-her-1217200.php |archive-date=September 15, 2020|work=Seattle Post Intelligencer|date= October 14, 2006}}</ref> In October 2008, the annual survey revealed seven were missing and presumed dead, reducing the count to 83.<ref name=researchers/> This is potentially the largest decline in the population in the past 10 years. These deaths can be attributed to declines in [[Chinook salmon]].<ref name=researchers>Le Phuong. [https://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/environment/2008-10-25-orcas-puget-sound_N.htm Researchers: 7 Orcas Missing from Puget Sound] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081028085210/http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/environment/2008-10-25-orcas-puget-sound_N.htm |date=October 28, 2008 }}, Associated Press. USA Today, October 25, 2008</ref>

Scientist [[Ken Balcomb]] has extensively studied orcas since 1976; he is the research biologist responsible for discovering [[Marine mammals and sonar#Naval sonar-linked incidents|U.S. Navy sonar may harm orcas]]. He studied orcas from the Center for Whale Research, located in [[Friday Harbor, Washington|Friday Harbor]], Washington.<ref name = Pickrell>{{cite news|last=Pickrell|first=John|title=U.S. Navy Sonar May Harm Killer Whales, Expert Says.|url=http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2004/03/0331_040331_whalesincrisis.html|access-date=March 19, 2012|newspaper=National Geographic News|date=March 2004|archive-date=September 9, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110909000831/http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2004/03/0331_040331_whalesincrisis.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> He was also able to study orcas from "his home porch perched above Puget Sound, where the animals hunt and play in summer months".<ref name = Pickrell/> In May 2003, Balcomb (along with other [[whale watching|whale watchers]] near the Puget Sound coastline) noticed uncharacteristic behaviour displayed by the orcas. The whales seemed "agitated and were moving haphazardly, attempting to lift their heads free of the water" to escape the sound of the sonars.<ref name = Pickrell/> "Balcomb confirmed at the time that strange underwater pinging noises detected with underwater microphones were sonar. The sound originated from a U.S. Navy frigate 12 miles (19 kilometres) distant, Balcomb said."<ref name = Pickrell/> The impact of sonar waves on orcas is potentially life-threatening. Three years prior to Balcomb's discovery, research in the Bahamas showed 14 beaked whales washed up on the shore. These whales were beached on the day U.S. Navy destroyers were activated into sonar exercise.<ref name = Pickrell/> Of the 14 whales beached, six of them died. These six dead whales were studied, and [[CAT scan]]s of two of the whale heads showed hemorrhaging around the brain and the ears, which is consistent with [[decompression sickness]].<ref name = Pickrell/>

Another conservation concern was made public in September 2008 when the Canadian government decided it was not necessary to enforce further protections (including the [[Species at Risk Act]] in place to protect endangered animals along with their habitats) for orcas aside from the laws already in place. In response to this decision, six environmental groups sued the federal government, claiming orcas were facing many threats on the [[British Columbia Coast]] and the federal government did nothing to protect them from these threats.<ref name = CBC>{{cite news|title=Ottawa Sued over Lack of Legislation to Protect B.C. Killer Whales|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/ottawa-sued-over-lack-of-legislation-to-protect-b-c-killer-whales-1.764491|access-date=March 19, 2012|newspaper=CBC News|date=October 9, 2008|archive-date=June 26, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120626200949/http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/story/2008/10/08/bc-killer-whale-lawsuit.html|url-status=live}}</ref> A legal and scientific nonprofit organization, [[Ecojustice]], led the lawsuit and represented the [[David Suzuki Foundation]], [[Environmental Defence]], [[Greenpeace Canada]], [[International Fund for Animal Welfare]], the Raincoast Conservation Foundation, and the [[Wilderness Committee]].<ref name = CBC/> Many scientists involved in this lawsuit, including Bill Wareham, a marine scientist with the David Suzuki Foundation, noted increased boat traffic, water toxic wastes, and low salmon population as major threats, putting approximately 87 orcas on the British Columbia Coast in danger.<ref name = CBC/>

[[Underwater acoustics|Underwater noise]] from shipping, drilling, and other human activities is a significant concern in some key orca habitats, including [[Johnstone Strait]] and [[Haro Strait]].{{sfn|Ford|Ellis|Balcomb|2000|p=100}} In the mid-1990s, loud underwater noises from [[salmon farm]]s were used to deter seals. Orcas also avoided the surrounding waters.<ref>
[http://www.raincoastresearch.org/orca.htm Research on Orcas] {{webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20120911041805/http://www.raincoastresearch.org/orca.htm |date=September 11, 2012 }}, Raincoast Research Society. Retrieved February 18, 2010</ref> High-intensity sonar used by the [[United States Navy|Navy]] disturbs orcas along with other marine mammals.<ref>{{Cite news|last=McClure|first=Robert|title=State expert urges Navy to stop sonar tests|url=http://www.seattlepi.com/local/article/State-expert-urges-Navy-to-stop-sonar-tests-1125871.php|work=Seattle Post Intelligencer|date=October 2, 2003|access-date=June 25, 2007|archive-date=October 4, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121004152333/http://www.seattlepi.com/local/article/State-expert-urges-Navy-to-stop-sonar-tests-1125871.php|url-status=live}}</ref> Orcas are popular with [[whale watching|whale watchers]], which may stress the whales and alter their behaviour, particularly if boats approach too closely or block their lines of travel.<ref>{{cite journal |last=Williams |first=Rob |title=Behavioural responses of male killer whales to a 'leapfrogging' vessel |journal=Journal of Cetacean Research and Management|volume=4 |issue=3 |pages=305–310 |year=2023 |doi=10.47536/jcrm.v4i3.844 |s2cid=55958971 |url=http://www.nwfsc.noaa.gov/research/divisions/cb/ecosystem/marinemammal/kwworkshops/boatpubs/leapfrogging_williamsetal.pdf |access-date=February 25, 2014 |archive-date=March 6, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140306170841/http://www.nwfsc.noaa.gov/research/divisions/cb/ecosystem/marinemammal/kwworkshops/boatpubs/leapfrogging_williamsetal.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>

The [[Exxon Valdez oil spill|''Exxon Valdez'' oil spill]] adversely affected orcas in [[Prince William Sound]] and Alaska's [[Kenai Fjords]] region. Eleven members (about half) of one resident pod disappeared in the following year. The spill damaged salmon and other prey populations, which in turn damaged local orcas. By 2009, scientists estimated the AT1 transient population (considered part of a larger population of 346 transients), numbered only seven individuals and had not reproduced since the spill. This population is expected to die out.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2009/03/valdezwhales/ |title=Unique Killer-Whale Pod Doomed by Exxon Valdez |magazine=Wired |access-date=December 31, 2009 |first=Brandon |last=Keim |date=March 24, 2009 |archive-date=January 6, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100106190509/http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2009/03/valdezwhales/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.whalesalaska.org/docs/m356p269.pdf |title=Marine Ecology Progress Series 356:269 |access-date=December 31, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110728174630/http://www.whalesalaska.org/docs/m356p269.pdf |archive-date=July 28, 2011 }}</ref>

Orcas are included in Appendix II of the [[Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species]] (CITES), meaning international trade (including in parts/derivatives) is regulated.<ref name = "CITES"/>