"Humans, pilot whales and KILLER WHALES are the only animals known to stop being able to reproduce long before they die." This article looks at a study which tests a hypothesis as to why the menopause evolved: competition with the in-laws.

http://www.nature.com/news/in-law-infighting-boosted-evolution-of-menopause-1.11253 

Just across the water from New Zealand, off the coast of Australia, an orca calf was filmed by crew aboard a 30 year old platform supply vessel in August. It is reported that the calf had been following nature watch boats for a few days, but hasn't been sighted for over 2 weeks - if anyone has any recent news or updates it would be hugely appreciated so that we can pass the information on to the appropriate authorities (who have already been informed). 

It is uncertain why the calf was alone but we are hoping here at Orca Aware that the young orca was picked up by family. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lTgVL839qLg&feature=player_embedded

In May 2010, male orca Putita stranded for the second time (the first being in 2003) at Ruakaka in Northland, New Zealand. He was stranded for approximately 2 hours and was successfully refloated by Ingrid Visser and a team of rescuers. Steve Hathaway captured some fantastic footage of the rescue, which you can view as part of this news clip, along with an interview of Ingrid. Putita's mum Yin (NZ27) and brother can be seen waiting just offshore for Putita during the rescue. 

It is likely that Putita stranded whilst hunting stingrays in shallow waters. "It's a very high risk type of prey that they're hunting for, they're in very shallow waters..." Ingrid explains. No where else in the world do orca come so close into shore to hunt for stingrays - they are often seen in less than 1m of water, inside surf zones, estuaries and harbours (www.orcaresearch.org). 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5i_mkthGcqg

Howard Garrett of the Orca Network takes a look at the development of culture in different orca populations and communities: 

http://readthedirt.org/2012/09/04/orca-tribes-of-the-salish-sea-and-beyond/ 

The UK trailer of new film 'Rust & Bone', starring Marion Cotillard and Matthias Schoenaerts, has just been released. Briefly, the movie is a love story which follows the developing bond between a nightclub bouncer and an orca trainer. 

Whilst the book depicts a captive orca attack leading to the loss of both the trainer's legs, the film is a little unclear as to how the tragedy occurs: "A shift of perspective at the crucial moment means we never really get to see what happened – did one of her whale charges sink its teeth into her?" Lee Marshall writes for Screen Daily. 

Greenpeace supporter and freedom advocate Marion Cotillard (who has starred in hit movies such as 'Inception' and 'The Dark Knight Rises') sparked off a controversial debate on orca captivity with her decision to work at Marineland of Antibes in France with the five captive orca held at the facility. 

Investigative journalist David Kirby reports an incident of aggression that occurred during Cotillard's time working with the killer whales, during which the actress recalls: “One of the whales kind of went mad at me. She screamed at me with her jaws wide open.”

It is important to note that whilst there have been numerous displays of aggression in captivity from captive orca toward humans, in many cases leading to injury or worse, there has not been a single incident in the wild. 

Cotillard goes on to say that she has always had a "repulsion going in a place where animals are in captivity" and that she had to "work through [her] rejection of this world, which [she] still feels". 

Real orca were used to perform during the making of this film and a lot of money was paid to Marineland of Antibes for this to be possible. It is important to be aware that by paying money to see this movie, the orca captive display industry is inadvertently being funded and supported. 

BDMLR: Orca Aware does not agree that orca or any other cetacean should be kept in captivity. The Orca Aware campaign will further explore resources which investigate the effects of captivity on orca at a later date. 

Other links - 

Screen Daily Review: http://www.screendaily.com/reviews/the-latest/rust-and-bone/5042061.article

Article by 'Death at SeaWorld' author David Kirby:http://www.screendaily.com/reviews/the-latest/rust-and-bone/5042061.article

http://movies.uk.msn.com/exclusives/video.aspx?videoid=26e7f743-fc23-4d7a-b638-89a722613fdc&src=v5%3Apause%3Atwitter%3A&from=sharepermalink-twitter

Tucker the dog can sniff out orca poo. Did that grab your attention? Thought so... Based on the San Juan Island in the Pacific Northwest, the black labrador mix can lead orca researchers and conservationists to the Southern resident orca upto a mile away - so long as it is within 30 minutes of pooping (at which point the scat can sink or disperse). And what does Tucker get in return? Play time! 

The Puget Sound orca are an endangered population of only 85 individuals, so this may be exactly the help that researchers and conservationists need to find these orca whilst out on the water so that they can better study, understand and protect them. 

http://seattletimes.com/html/localnews/2019049003_whaledog02.html

PLEASE READ & SHARE - REMEMBERING THE TAIJI TEN: Today was Japan Dolphins Day. All around the world, people gathered outside of Japanese Embassies and Consulates to peacefully protest against the annual Taiji dolphin cull that begins on September 1st of every year. A positive message is sent forth: Let the dolphins live, set them free! 

Today we want to take a moment to remember and share the story of the Taiji Ten. On February 7th 1997, a pod of 10 orca were rounded up into the Taiji Cove. Five of the orca, comprised of females and young, were taken and sold to the captive display industry. The remaining five orca, unwilling to leave the rest of their pod, were pushed back out to sea - it is unknown what became of these five, but without the young females, their long-term survival prospects were low. Of the five taken into captivity, a young male and a pregnant female quickly died. Today, there is not a single surviving orca out of the five that were taken into captivity.

Please spare five minutes to watch this BlueVoice.org video and remember the Taiji Ten:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ceLQNl2ZMZQ

Check out the Orca Network's Share the Water page, where you can go to find out more about the orca and other cetaceans found in the Salish Sea (Pacific Northwest), their habitat, how to safely share the water with them when handling boats around them and how to report sightings, strandings and harrassments. 

http://www.facebook.com/ShareTheWater