Since 2020, a group of orcas near the Strait of Gibraltar has been documented interacting with — and in some cases disabling — sailboats. Marine biologists believe the behaviour most likely began as play or curiosity initiated by a female orca nicknamed White Gladis, and was then copied by younger pod members through social learning. Orcas are highly intelligent, socially complex animals, and mimicry within pods is well established. While headlines use dramatic language, researchers emphasise that the behaviour appears to be play-driven rather than aggressive. The trend captured global attention and turned orcas into the internet's favourite meme subjects, massively boosting interest in orca stuffed animals and orca plushies worldwide.

In the wild, there are no verified fatal attacks on humans by orcas. Wild orcas appear to distinguish between humans and their natural prey, and encounters in open water are generally non-hostile. In captivity, however, incidents have occurred, which is one reason many wildlife experts and advocates strongly oppose keeping orcas in marine parks. The contrast between their gentle wild behaviour toward humans and the incidents in captivity has fuelled significant public interest in orca welfare and conservation — and a lot of love for killer whale plush toys as a way to celebrate these animals without supporting captivity.

Orcas are apex predators with remarkably diverse diets depending on their ecotype. Resident orcas along the Pacific Northwest coast primarily eat fish, especially Chinook salmon. Transient (Bigg's) orcas hunt marine mammals including seals, sea lions, and even great white sharks. Offshore orcas tend to feed on sharks and large fish. Each ecotype has developed unique, culturally transmitted hunting strategies passed down through generations — from coordinated wave-washing to beach-stranding techniques. This cultural sophistication is part of what makes orcas so fascinating, and why the orca stuffed toy has become such a beloved symbol of ocean intelligence.

The Southern Resident killer whale population — a small, genetically distinct community of orcas living in the Pacific Northwest — is critically endangered, numbering fewer than 75 individuals. Their primary threats include a severe decline in their preferred prey (Chinook salmon), noise and chemical pollution from vessel traffic, and the lasting effects of past captures for marine park displays (which removed key reproductive adults from the population). Conservation organisations and researchers actively monitor this population, and public awareness efforts often link to a surge in interest in orca stuffed animals as people look for ways to express solidarity with these animals.

For many Indigenous peoples of the Pacific Northwest, including the Haida, Tlingit, and Coast Salish nations, the orca (often called Killer Whale or Blackfish) holds profound spiritual and cultural meaning. The orca is frequently depicted in totem poles, regalia, and art as a guardian, ancestor, and symbol of family unity and strength. Some traditions hold that deceased relatives may return as orcas, making sightings deeply personal and sacred events. This rich cultural heritage adds another dimension to the widespread love for the killer whale stuffed animal — these are animals that have inspired reverence and storytelling for thousands of years.