Since first establishing the Orca Research Trust (ORT), Dr Ingrid Visser has endeavoured to keep the public informed about the orca who live around New Zealand.  The first identification (ID) guide was published in the early 1990s and it has been updated periodically since then.  In 2000, in association with the ORT and New Zealand Geographic, Dr Visser published an ID guide that was distributed with the magazine, which also featured an article about the NZ orca written by Dr Visser.

Twenty years later, on 8 June 2020, (World Oceans Day), Dr Visser, together with researcher Tracy Cooper and the ORT, released a greately expanded publication ‘Guide to the New Zealand Orca’ as an e-publication (pdf) – free of charge.

The Guide illustrates and describes more than 60 orca seen in the waters of New Zealand. There is bonus information on some individuals in the form of ‘Stories’, which outline parts of their lives (such as how old they are, how they got their name and who they are likely related to).

With sections on behaviour, strandings, entanglements and photo-identification, the Guide helps any orca fan learn more about these apex predators, whilst still having a focus on the New Zealand orca ecotypes (separate populations).

We are excited to be sharing this publication with you all and encourage you to please call 0800 SEE ORCA if you see orca in NZ waters.