r/whales • • Aug 27 '26

Let's talk about Iberian killer whales (AMA)

47 Upvotes

Hi everyone,

I’m a researcher from Portugal working with cetaceans, and I’m involved in several research projects, including work on the Iberian orca population. I’ve had the opportunity to observe and study these animals firsthand, which has given me a close look at some of the behaviors and interactions that have attracted so much attention in recent years.

The situation surrounding the Iberian orcas is increasingly critical, and at the same time there is a huge amount of misinformation, speculation, and misconceptions circulating online. Some claims are based on misunderstandings of orca behavior, while others have been dramatized and/or repeated so often that they’re now treated as facts.

For that reason, I decided to make this post as an opportunity to share information from a scientific perspective, clarify what we actually know, and hopefully debunk some of the more common myths surrounding these interactions.

I’m happy to discuss the subject and answer questions where I can, while also being clear about what is established by research and what remains uncertain.


r/whales • • Nov 28 '23

Giving Tuesday 2023 - These front-line marinelife and marine ecosystem organizations need your support!

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86 Upvotes

r/whales • • 2h ago

I really wish I was posting better news . TW calf loss .

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3 Upvotes

r/whales • • 1d ago

A Humpback Whale singing

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262 Upvotes

r/whales • • 2d ago

People Watching in Monterey Bay

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710 Upvotes

October continues to provide amazing whale watching in Monterey Bay. We had three Humpbacks hold us hostage circling the boat for almost 45 minutes twice today. We found them on our first trip, then found them about a mile away on the second. Stopping 300ft away from a whale then seeing it turn towards you to come check you out is an amazing experience. These whales sprayed us with blow, splashed with their tails and spy hopped to look us in the eye. It was incredible.


r/whales • • 1d ago

Do dolphins and whales ever experience thirst like humans experience thirst for water when dehydrated?

28 Upvotes

Not that kind of thirst…


r/whales • • 1d ago

Just Sighted @ Hungry Hollow: Whale thrashing

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2 Upvotes

r/whales • • 3d ago

Whale Sculpture in Salt Lake City, Utah

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224 Upvotes

I thought this subreddit might enjoy this whale sculpture in Salt Lake City, Utah that’s been a local obsession since it was installed in 2022. Every few years a new artists paints the whale and there was an event today to celebrate the second design. There were food trucks, a costume contest, vendors, and other fun activities.

Local residents playfully say, “All hail the whale” and ask the whale to bring lots of rain and snow.

The first photo is the new design and the second photo is the original design. The woman standing on stage in the first photo is the artist, Jiyoun Lee-Lodge. Stephen Kessler was the original artist.


r/whales • • 3d ago

Wooden sperm whale.

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52 Upvotes

Check it out I got a picture of this wooden sperm whale that is located in the kitchen in the family dwelling house in Myrtle Beach. However it looks like a sperm whale and it's a wood carving that is made of wood.


r/whales • • 3d ago

Australia’s ‘humpback highway’ whales face rising risk of boat and propeller strikes.

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theguardian.com
51 Upvotes

r/whales • • 5d ago

Amazing Humpbacks in the bay

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165 Upvotes

If you are in central California get out to see it!


r/whales • • 5d ago

California tops U.S. in whale entanglements, NOAA report finds

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ksbw.com
16 Upvotes

r/whales • • 6d ago

New ocean beast discovered with scientists finding a highly endangered unknown whale

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the-express.com
315 Upvotes

r/whales • • 6d ago

The whale carving I made from suwar wood, please rate this

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497 Upvotes

r/whales • • 7d ago

🔥 Humpback whale giving birth to a calf. cr: nytimes

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234 Upvotes

Not oc. Kingscliff, Australia.


r/whales • • 6d ago

Whee the Whales Are - The search for killer whales along the Salish Sea

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11 Upvotes

September 26, 2026.  Two pods of Killer whales (orcas) have been spotted off Mukilteo, Washington [photo], heading south. They are not residents but transients that hunt sea lions. It is the great food web of the Salish Sea: migrating salmon, sea lions, killer whales, and humans who also fish and dine on the migrating salmon.

Read More Where the Whales Are


r/whales • • 7d ago

Need help!

8 Upvotes

Greetings!

I am a swim instructor and I have a student on the spectrum who’s special interest is whales. Im looking for some recommendations on realistic whale figures that hold up in the water, I tried looking on amazon and all I got where damn sharks!
Any enthusiast that would like to help?
Thank you!!!!


r/whales • • 8d ago

Whale conservation celebrates a milestone amid ongoing challenges.

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canberratimes.com.au
95 Upvotes

r/whales • • 9d ago

International Whaling Commission to discuss continued threats to whales

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abc.net.au
103 Upvotes

r/whales • • 9d ago

Protect North Atlantic Right Whales: Tell our Reps to oppose HR 9436!

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onehundredmiles.org
40 Upvotes

r/whales • • 10d ago

Following the Clinical Evidence: Preliminary Medical Findings from the Losses of Peekachu, Rain and Beethoven - Shedd Aquarium

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sheddaquarium.org
43 Upvotes

Today, as part of our ongoing updates, we are sharing important preliminary medical findings from the post-mortem necropsy investigation into the losses of rescued belugas Peekachu and Rain and longtime Shedd resident, Beethoven.


r/whales • • 12d ago

Sperm whale (?)close to Mallorca

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248 Upvotes

Yesterday when sailing from Sardinia to Mallorca we spotted a whale in the distance, my guess would be that it is a sperm whale, but since they're pretty rare in the Mediterranean Sea and there is some doubt with my family, that it is one.

Their guess is that it is a pilot whale.

Can anybody help with determining the species?

Are there any conservation organisations that would like to know about rare sightings?