Friends of the Wild Side

08/24/2025

This brother wants his sister back ❤️‍🩹

08/20/2025

Watch on full screen 💙

08/19/2025

Holy Toledo! The orcapalousa that hit the Bere Pt. rubbing beach around 9pm this evening was beyond fantastic❣️It’s been over 20 years since we’ve had a pile on like that, and just as before, in the pitch dark, with the rain pouring down. Their calls were loud and intermixed, and the rubbing was enthusiastic!!

A Clan, G Clan, and R Clan too, just having themselves a beach party. All told, about a 40 minute event, but here’s a 30 second sound bite to give you a taste of it🖤🤍
(Just tap on the black “image” to play the audio)

08/19/2025

This is the report reguardimg the death of I76, from Helena, at the mighty Orcalab 💔

A summary of events surrounding the death of I76, by Helena Symonds.

08/19/2025

The entire Friends of the Wild Side family will dearly miss this beautiful orca, we were so fond of I76 💙He always enjoyed a good beach rub, and we were delighted to see him each season, just so many amazing experiences with him, and his family, the I4 matriline, of the I11 Pod from G Clan. We have recorded the sights and sounds of the I4s for most of I76’s lifetime, as he was only 28 years old when he went down, under the surface for the last time yesterday afternoon
💔

08/18/2025

I76 died in Johnston Strait yesterday. He was only 28 years old😭 more details to follow

08/11/2025

In the summer of 2012, I had the pleasure of hosting my good friends, Holly & Kevin, aka The Wilds. We spent marvellous days, waiting for orca, and on one of them, we began to write this song. 13 years on,
“Waiting for Orca” continues to be sung by thousands of schoolchildren across North America! Education meets Ecology 🎉
(a choir of 300 students is quite a feat😊)

Waiting For Orca was inspired by a trip we took to Sointula, on Malcolm Island. On the north side of the island, there is a kilometres-long beach covered wit...

08/10/2025

The Friends of the Wild Side are local residents of Malcolm Island, and the Wild Side Project was created to guide our research and educational goals. We received our first DFO Marine Mammal Research Licence in 2003, and continue to hold the licence in 2025. Based on our observations at the Bere Point orca rubbing beach, we were proud to have launched our first edition of the Orca Passport in 2017. The Orca Passport is our site specific recommended Guidelines for land based whale watching at Bere Point. Over the past 8 years, and now on our 4th edition, thousands of Orca Passports have helped to educate the visitors to Bere Point, enhancing their understanding, and reducing their impact on the orcas beach rubbing behaviour.
So, here’s a happy memory post from our super fun 2017 Launch Party🎉

🌟A great big thank you goes out, from the Friends of the Wild Side, to you, Sointula. It was wonderful to have all of you join us for our 2017 Orca Passport Launch Party! The family fun was combined with learning about the Orca that we share this area with, and a good time was had by all. Happy shout outs to The Wilds, Holly Arntzen & Kevin Wright, for coming all this way to share their music in support of our Wild Side Project🎉

07/27/2025

She lived a long and successful life, frequently visiting the Bere Pt rubbing beach. Rest in Peace Sointula ☮️💜

07/01/2025

Well, it's Canada Day, and you know what That means! Friends of the Wild Side have our Research Field Camp up & running. 🎼 We stand on guard for thee 🎼 Waiting for orca. 😎🇨🇦