Orcas, also known as killer whales, live in all the world's oceans, making them one of the most widely distributed marine mammals after humans. They are found in a variety of marine environments ranging from the Arctic and Antarctic regions to tropical seas
. They are most abundant in colder waters such as those around Antarctica, Norway, and Alaska, but they also inhabit tropical and subtropical waters
. Orcas prefer higher latitudes and coastal areas over open ocean environments, with high densities found in the northeast Atlantic near Norway, the north Pacific near the Aleutian Islands and Gulf of Alaska, and the Southern Ocean near Antarctica
. Some notable regions where orcas are commonly found include:
- The coasts of British Columbia, Washington, and Oregon in the eastern Pacific
- The San Juan Islands in Washington, USA, known for Southern Resident orcas
- Norwegian fjords during winter
- Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada
- Monterey Bay, California, USA
- New Zealand’s South Island waters near Kaikoura
Orcas can also venture into freshwater rivers, having been documented up to 160 km upriver in the Columbia River (USA), Fraser River (Canada), and Horikawa River (Japan)
. They inhabit coastal waters and open seas and can tolerate a wide range of temperatures and salinities, enabling them to live in deep waters and close to shorelines where they hunt various prey
. Their populations include different ecotypes such as residents, transients, and offshore orcas, each adapted to specific habitats and prey types
. In summary, orcas live worldwide in all oceans, with a preference for colder coastal waters but adaptability to diverse marine habitats from polar to tropical regions
