Orcas

animal-visits

As of 2025, SeaWorld Orlando is home to a multi-generational group of orcas born both in human care and, in one well-documented case, in the wild before transitioning to permane...

marine-predators

Orcas (Orcinus orca) are highly adaptable oceanic predators whose diets vary by population, habitat, and season. While some groups specialize in fish, others focus on marine mam...

marine-mammals

Orcas in North Carolina are rare because the state lies at the edge of the species’ core western Atlantic range, which centers on higher latitudes and deeper canyon waters. Si...

marine-predation

Orcas do hunt great white sharks in specific, documented situations, primarily where the two species overlap and orcas have developed specialized tactics. These events are neith...

animals-welfare-captivity

Tilikum was a male Icelandic orca captured in 1983 near Reykjavik and sold to a marine park in Ontario, Canada. In 1992, he was transferred to SeaWorld Orlando. During his time...

Relationships

Orcas and great white sharks are both apex predators of the ocean, but their body plans and dimensions differ in important ways. On average, adult male orcas measure about 23 to...