Possible lifeline for threatened orcas in Russia

According to a draft order from the Russian Ministry of Natural Resources, an orca ecotype known as Bigg’s (or transient) orcas, who roam across vast areas in the waters of Russia’s Far East will be given their own entry in the Russian Red Book – a document that lists rare and endangered species.

The draft order needs to have final approval from the Russian government but, if successful, will give them special status and mean that no more of these orcas will be allowed to be captured for commercial purposes, such as captivity shows.

Bigg’s orcas are part of a group that eat other marine mammals such as harbour seals, minke whales and gray whale calves rather than fish and, according to estimates from our Russian partners at the Far East Russia Orca Project (FEROP), only a few hundred of them remain in the seas around Russia. As many as 16 to 20 orcas – most if not all transients – have been removed for aquariums in the past three years which could have a dramatic impact on the rest of the population.