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PROYECTO ORCA
Patagonia - Antártida... was born from curiosity
and has no end.

It is an observation program and study of behavior of orcas in the wild, based on photo identification.
We started our records on the 8th of January of 1975 becoming pioneers in the long term studies on orcas in Argentina, giving the first names and identification codes to each one of the orcas observed at Punta Norte, Península Valdés, Province of Chubut, Patagonia Argentina.
Publishing in 1991 the first catalogue "WANTED" that identifies orcas of Argentina.

During 1985 we informed the international scientific community, by publishing a paper in the Journal of Mammalogy, about the intentional stranding techniques of the orcas of Patagonia, to capture sea lions - Otaria flavescens - and southern elephant seals - Mirounga leonina - "KILLER WHALES ( Orcinus orca ) OF PATAGONIA, AND THEIR BEHAVIOR OF INTENTIONAL STRANDING WHILE HUNTING NEARSHORE " 66(1):181 -183.

Since July 1975, and from then we are offering educational programs
about the wild orcas behavior and their problematic in captivity. Trying to educate teachers, as much as their pupils, or the general public upon the necessity of observing the orcas for ever free.

WHEN A PROJECT TURNS
INTO A FOUNDATION

Orca Patagonia - Antartic Project ,during it´s continuous growth since 1975, gives another step forward with the creation of FUNDACION ORCA Patagonia - Antártida. Without, however abandoning the Project that withit´s inertia generated a current directed towards the observation of the orcas life in their wild habitat, obtaining the attention and marking a road followed by other restless researchers who added themselves onto the new tendency in our country.
Orca Project does not desappear as such, nor ever will desappear, because it is within the heart of each and every one that, one way or another, collaborated with it´s growth trusting in it.
Because it will last for ever in the thoughts and conduct to follow by each one of the thousands of children who participated in it´s educational plans, and by the millions who lived it through television, radio and written articles in magazines and newspapers.
For me, in particular, as the creator and director since 1975, Orca Project is my way of life, it means 24 years trying to change the killer whale concept, educating children, teachers, professors, professionals, naturalists and all those who approached us and reach us daily to try to understand more about the life of these marvellous and magic dolphins.
They were 24 magnificent years working until we managed to change the bad judgement that people had about the supposed ferocity of the badly names "killer whale"; against their capture in those days as today, in which it is no longer justified by any means that an animal die captive in order to entertain humans in their free time.
Due to it´s own and unstopable movements, it projected a project, the concretion of the Fundación Orca that will allow me, together with an excellent group to continue this task returning to field observation, looking for new areas where to continue with photo-identifications pods still unknown in our country; while at the same time we will carry on with new interactive educational plans.
For those who have folowed us for so many years and for those who got in touch recently, this is not a change, it is only "a dream come true", for all of us to enjoy.
This way Orca Project will continue excisting within the Fundación Orca as a mother entity, following the conduct of the society of the matriarchil orca pods, offering it´s experince for as long as a live orca excists in the ocean and a child who will be touched while observing it.

Assistance for documentary film crews

The director of the project has been hired as field assistant by several film crews in amongst which we can mention:
Walt Disney Productions; Stan Waterman; Jeff Foot Productions and Marine Aero Films of USA/BBC Natural History Uni; -Patridge Films Limited and Survival Anglia Limited of England/ TF1 Nicolás Hulot;Tele Achette S.A. and Centre de Culture Scientifique et Technique de la Mer de France; Saint Thomas Productions/ TBS; Cetus Co. Ltd. Filming; NTV y JOYX TV 12 of Japan/ Autralia Broadcasting Corporation of Australia/ TVE and Ornis Films of Spain/ USA Network Alto Riesgo de México/ Proartel, La Aventura del Hombre; CVS Sports, Sumergidos, Pro Natura Producciones; TN Ecología; TyC Sports, Polideportivo; TyC Sports, Estación Submarina de Argentina.

If your next film is about the patagonian wildlife remember that from a good assistance not only
do that desired footage result if not the savings produced by being at the precise places at the
precise moment. Hiring our experience is a good investment. The success achieved by the crews
above mentioned, is proof of that.

The orcas names.

During 1991 we distributed along Argentine, Uruguayan and Brazilian
coast the first catalogue with some 26 identified orcas, choosing those that presented dorsal fins with marks or easily observed deformations. The idea was for resident people or temporary visitors to coastal areas, to have the opportunity to contribute with our project, by informing when they saw orcas. Actually the number of orcas that frequent the studied area is of only 19 individuals.

Stranding themselves to survive!

The orcas we study in Patagonia and Antarctic adopted a complex and dangerous methodology.
This consists in the intentional stranding on the beach, which they do by swimming rapidly towards the coast, to strand nearly two thirds of their body length on it, capturing a sea lion or elephant seal, returning to sea with energetic movements of the back and belly, taking the live prey to share it with the other members of the pod.
It is known that cetacean stranding produce every year the death of hundreds of individuals around the world.
When they remain exposed out of the water, they suffer amongst other problems the deshidration and death if they are not assisted by teams specialized in this type of rescue. However, the orcas studied by us, intentionally strand themselves on the beach to capture prey and feed themselves. A spectacular behavior that each year attracts more film crews with the intention of registering this and showing it to the world.
A similar behavior is observed in the orcas that frequent the Crozet Islands (Indian Ocean) and the Antartic.

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In the upper and middle ilustrations, you can see the orca capturing a sea lion and down, capturing an elephant seal.

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