Long captivated by California’s orca whales, iconic representations of the natural splendor of the Pacific coast, scientists, environmentalists, and the public have all been drawn to these creatures. Behind their elegant motions and well-publicized presence, however, is a past tainted by exploitation and manipulation. Particularly threatened by strong economic and institutional interests attempting to regulate […]

Among the most intelligent and sophisticated marine animals on Earth are orcas, also known as killer whales. They are also very sociable. Although they are icons in marine parks and aquariums because to their fascinating appearance, this obsession has also spurred ongoing discussions regarding their reproduction and confinement. Once hailed as conservation initiatives, Orca breeding […]

The legal systems around whales and other marine mammoths are a complicated junction of geopolitical conflict, international collaboration, conservation research, and indigenous rights. For millennia, people have been fascinated, revered, and exploited these large, intelligent sea creatures like dugongs, whales, and narwhals. Historically hunted for oil, meat, and bone, several species have suffered significant population […]