I actually know several Orcas, personally, and they (honestly) know me, or at least they used to. For several years we would vacation in Orlando 3 or 4 times a year and had annual passes to SeaWorld, as well as the Disney parks. My favorite thing on vacation was to send the family off to the shows and rides while I sat in the Killer Whale stadium BETWEEN SHOWS to read my "vacation book."
I got to know the trainers quite well and, through them, got to know the whales. Whenever we'd come back and go to that area of the park the whales would react and play with us on our first visit. The trainers told us that was the way they reacted when a trainer who had left the park would come back for a visit. They remembered us and were happy to see us.
It's rather startling to have the largest animal in captivity in the world squirt water on you and realize he understood it as a joke. We saw one birth and were present for the work up for four more. The trainers used to tell us they could tell when the whale would be born by when we left Orlando. It was guaranteed within three days! We learned the commands for some of the simpler behaviors (like 'do a jump') and some of the whales would even respond to us giving them.
Now that's cool.
Killer Whales are not endangered. They roam the world and this pod is only one (changeable) family group among thousands. This is a total crock. And the whales I know would eat the enviro whacko's trying to use them this way and laugh about it afterwards.
Interesting story. I agree WRT your take on orcas. They and dolphins (cetaceans in general) are remarkable animals. I particularly agree about the clear sense of humor that they exhibit from time to time. This alone suggests a higher order of intelligence. They're amazing critters to be around.
If only they had opposable thumbs, things might have turned out very differently. :-)
I am an environmentalist. I'm a charter member in the Cousteau Society. I live on the water and will fight vigorously for the cleanliness of my sound and my beach. But I also understand the difference between real science and junk science.