On January 25, 2026, the Orca Behavior Institute (OBI) confirmed a two-hour monitoring session of two Bigg’s (transient) orca families in the waters near Sidney, British Columbia. The research team documented and photo‑identified members of the T010s and T109As to record their condition and track movement through the Sidney Channel and northern Haro Strait.
These whales belong to the Bigg’s ecotype — marine‑mammal‑eating orcas — which have become increasingly common in the Salish Sea in recent years. The two matrilines were identified as T010 (matriarch “Langara”) and T109A (matriarch “Runaway”), according to identification records maintained by the Center for Whale Research.
Local boaters and tour operators are reminded to follow Be Whale Wise guidelines to avoid disturbing whales. Federal regulations require vessels to stay at least 400 metres away from killer whales in specified southern B.C. coastal waters (generally between Campbell River and just north of Ucluelet) under an Interim Order; elsewhere in Canadian Pacific waters the Marine Mammal Regulations generally set a 200‑metre minimum approach distance for killer whales. Operators should consult Be Whale Wise, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, and Transport Canada guidance for the applicable rules and any authorized exceptions.
Researchers said that sightings of two Bigg’s matrilines together represent socially significant “multi‑pod” or socializing events that provide useful data on interactions and foraging behavior. Monitoring of such events helps document social structure and movement patterns as Bigg’s occurrence in the Salish Sea has increased in recent years.
