"We can learn from [orcas], not just about them. Because they've been practicing how to live on the planet as very self-conscious, culture-building mammals—which is the best we can say about ourselves—for many millions of years before humans." - Howard Garrett, Orca Network.

Read more from this big feature article about captive Southern resident orca 'Lolita' and the captive orca entertainment industry: ​

​http://www.thestranger.com/features/feature/2015/09/30/22939219/its-time-to-free-lolita-a-puget-sound-killer-whale-thats-been-trapped-in-miami-for-45-years

Update from the Orca Research Trust: 

"After spending 22 hours watching the mother orca carrying her dead calf, we were devastated to see her driven off, due to bad driving from a few boaties (approaching too fast and too close). Although many people showed great respect and sympathy when they approached (and drove considerately - thank you to those folks), the few who didn’t caused the mother to abandon her baby."

Read more: 
https://www.facebook.com/OrcaResearchTrust/photos/a.302161829495.146935.209672764495/10153632840839496/?type=1&theater

Article (posted 30th September): 
An article about the inconsiderate boaters who interrupted the grieving process of a New Zealand orca who has recently lost her calf says that a preliminary necropsy indicates that the calf died from 'blunt force trauma' - it was most likely to have been struck by a boat. Dr. Ingrid Visser of New Zealand's Orca Research Trust comments on the incident and highlights the imperative need for boaters to be aware of the laws and regulations that exist to protect orca and marine mammals in their natural habitat.

Read here: http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11521507

The U.S. Navy has agreed to stop sonar testing in specified zones around the Hawaiian Islands and Southern California where marine mammals reproduce, feed, and migrate.“It has been a long journey, and we’ve all won if we can keep the ocean's majestic inhabitants alive in peace for future generations." - Ken Balcomb, Center for Whale Research.

Read more: http://blog.explore.org/orcas-given-protections-from-navy-sonar-testing/

"Dolphinaria-Free Europe members The Born Free Foundation, and Italian animal protection association LAV (Lega Anti Vivisezione) have been working together to promote the second in a series of four scientific papers by bottlenose dolphin specialist, Dr Joan Gonzalvo, which challenge the argument that it is acceptable to keep marine mammals in captivity."

Read more & download the scientific papers here: http://endcap.eu/dolphinaria/new-research-against-cetacean-captivity/

"Researchers have confirmed the birth of the 5th orca calf this year to be born to the Southern Resident population of orcas living off the north-west Pacific coast."

Read more: ​http://uk.whales.org/news/2015/09/another-calf-for-southern-resident-orcas

New Zealand orcas were recently sighted in the Bay of Islands hunting sharks. 
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Read more: ​​http://www.nzherald.co.nz/northern-advocate/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503450&objectid=11508985