Now available as an eBook: We really recommend "Orca: The Whale Called Killer" by orca researcher Erich Hoyt. It is a very insightful book and a wonderful read. What a great Christmas present this would make!

Via Erich Hoyt: 
I am very pleased to announce the eBook version of Orca: The Whale Called Killer, available for instant download in all eBook formats (see links below). My publisher Firefly did a good job; all the original photos, illustrations, appendices are intact — although it did take 2 weeks of fine editing to make things right. 

You can still get the paperback at erichhoytbooks.com, and signed if you want!

Main outlets for Orca eBook:
Amazon.com: http://amzn.to/1bVv4p2
Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/18iOS6I
Amazon Canada: http://amzn.to/1dPaZ4S
Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/1hSLuph
Kobo Books: http://bit.ly/1cE1g04

Additional country sites for Orca eBook:
Amazon Germany: http://amzn.to/19AsiSZ
Amazon Japan: http://amzn.to/1bKgQce
Amazon Spain: http://amzn.to/HVCJKK
Amazon France: http://amzn.to/1fPFfhB
Amazon Italy: http://amzn.to/1cE0yjD

Amongst other successes, the documentary has inspired Pixar to change their 'Finding Nemo' sequel and after the UK premiere of 'Blackfish' Thursday 21st November 2013 on BBC4, the whole nation has been talking about orca captivity, with #Blackfish becoming a trending topic on Twitter. 

A change of heart has also occurred in members of Canadian rock band Barenaked Ladies. They announced two days ago that they will not perform their scheduled gig at marine entertainment park SeaWorld. This comes after they watched the documentary 'Blackfish' and after fans created an online petition asking them to reconsider the event. They Tweeted yesterday that "We've talked things over, and decided not to play at SeaWorld at this time." They also released a news article on their website which further explains their position. 

Following BNL's reaction to their fans, to 'Blackfish' and to the plight of captive orca, an online petition has been created asking Willie Nelson to reconsider his scheduled performance at SeaWorld. 

In this 21st Century, social media platforms really are providing us all with a loud voice that we can use to communicate with the world the topics and issues we are concerned about! 

Recently, we at Orca Aware have discovered a new way to raise awareness about welfare concerns of orca. Thunderclaps are timed social media posts that people can sign up to in order to create a crowd-speaking platform. Anyone who has joined a Thunderclap will have the same post blasted across their social media sites at exactly the same time, "creating a wave of attention". 

A Thunderclap has been created by our friends at Fins and Fluke for orca Morgan and they "are asking YOU to speak up for Morgan and her chance at freedom." Why are they doing this? "In sharing our message together at the same time we are standing up together and raising awareness for Morgan. Her upcoming hearing, December 3rd 2013, gives us a chance to get the message out to the public about her demise at Loro Parque. It's time for Morgan to go home to her real family!"

Morgan's Thunderclap already has a social reach of over half a million people and if you donate a status, even more people will learn about her situation. To find out who Morgan is and why she deserves your support, please visit Free Morgan Foundation. 

Orca researcher Dr. Ingrid Visser speaks about captive Southern resident orca Lolita, supporting the work of the Orca Network and their campaign to retire Lolita the orca (also known as Tokitae).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kvYc2o__uz0

This is very sad: two of the Russian orca captured recently from the wild are being flown across Russia to the Sochi Dolphinarium. Sochi is where the Winter Olympics will be taking place in 2014. These are the first orca ever to be put on public display in Russia.

Via orca researcher Erich Hoyt: 
We have new information that two of the killer whales being held near Vladivostok are soon to be flown across Russia to the Sochi Dolphinarium. Sochi is a busy place these days preparing for the winter Olympics, 7-23 Feb. 2014. The whale captors are intending to make money during the Olympics by putting the orcas on display. These will be the first orcas ever displayed in public in Russia. A sad day for Russia, a sad thing for the Olympics, a very sad situation for 2 orcas who now will be flying across 7 time zones, some 7,427 kilometres (4,614 miles) to spend the rest of what remains of their lives in captivity.

Scientists unraveling mystery of Orcas in race to save them
http://www.komonews.com/news/local/NOAA-scientists-unraveling-mystery-of-Orcas-in-race-to-save-them-233344861.html

Watch Blackfish on BBC iPlayer! Learn about SeaWorld owned orca Tilikum and Keto (here on loan to Loro Parque) and find out the likely reason why both these individuals killed their trainers.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b03j49l6/Storyville_20132014_Blackfish_The_Whale_that_Killed/

via Free Morgan Foundation: Abuse continues at Loro Parque with wild orca Morgan:

ABUSE CONTINUES AT LORO PARQUE
Photographs taken by Dr Visser on the 17th of November 2013, clearly show that Morgan has continued to suffer whilst being ‘cared’ for at Loro Parque. Her front teeth are worn down to the gums, others have had more than a third worn off and yet at least one other is broken. Not shown in the photo is a tooth on her right jaw which is nearly worn to the pulp and which may very well have to be drilled out. If not, she may get a tooth infection, which could cause sepsis and death. The photo also clearly shows the extreme damage she has inflicted on herself from continually banging against the tank walls. This is termed ‘hypertrophic tissue damage’ and is often itchy as well as sore. Furthermore, Morgan has banged her head against the tank so often that she has worn away the skin and exposed raw flesh. Yet, Loro Parque and the owner claim that Morgan is ‘doing fine and is in good health’. They also claim that Dr Visser manipulates data. You decide what you want to believe.

'Blackfish' will be airing this Thursday 21st November on BBC4 at 9pm. Tune in to learn about orca captivity, a death at SeaWorld and an individual known as Tilikum: 
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b03j49l6

Find out more about Blackfish. 

Below is a photo of the male orca known as Keto who was involved in the death of a trainer at Loro Parque and his story will feature in the documentary so be sure to tune in.

Orca Aware have been working in collaboration with Lee Harrison and James Wolf to provide information about some of the Forgotten Orca who have lived and died in captivity. To learn more about these individuals, please visit: http://www.orcaaware.org/the-forgotten-orca.html

Russian Orca Captures: The Inside Story via Whale and Dolphin Conservation and Russian Orcas

Read the article at: http://uk.whales.org/blog/erichhoyt/2013/11/russian-orca-captures-inside-story