Editing Pygmy killer whale (section)

==Population and distribution==
Pygmy killer whales have been observed in groups ranging from 4 to 30 or more individual animals.<ref name=":4" /> The only population estimate is of 38,900 individuals in the eastern tropical [[Pacific Ocean]]; however, this estimate had a large [[coefficient of variation]] meaning the true population size could be much lower or much higher.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Wade|first1=P. R.|last2=Gerrodette|first2=T.|date=1993|title=Estimates of cetacean abundance and distribution in the eastern tropical Pacific|journal=Forty-Third Report of the International Whaling Commission |volume=43 |pages=477–493}}</ref>

The species has a wide distribution in tropical and subtropical waters worldwide. They are sighted regularly off Hawaii and Japan.<ref>Author name,[http://eol.org/pages/328531/details “Pygmy Killer Whale”], ”EOL, Encyclopedia of Life”, March 13th, 2015</ref> Appearances in [[bycatch]] suggest a year-round presence in the [[Indian Ocean]] near [[Sri Lanka]] and the [[Lesser Antilles]]. The species has also been found in the south-west Indian Ocean in the [[French Southern and Antarctic Lands]] off [[Europa Island]], [[Mozambique]]<ref name="auto"/> and [[South Africa]]<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Findlay|first1=K. P.|last2=Best|first2=P. B.|last3=Ross|first3=G. J. B.|last4=Cockcroft|first4=V. G.|date=1992-06-01|title=The distribution of small odontocete cetaceans off the coasts of South Africa and Namibia|journal=South African Journal of Marine Science|volume=12|issue=1|pages=237–270|doi=10.2989/02577619209504706|issn=0257-7615|doi-access=free}}</ref> but not yet recorded off East Africa. In the Atlantic, individuals have been observed as far north as [[South Carolina]] on the west  and [[Senegal]] on the east.<ref>Author name, [http://www.slideshare.net/hellanysales/grzimek-animal-life-encyclopedia-volume-15-mammals-iv “”] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402133256/http://www.slideshare.net/hellanysales/grzimek-animal-life-encyclopedia-volume-15-mammals-iv |date=April 2, 2015 }}, ”Grzimek Mammals IVAnimal Life Encyclopedia”, March 13th 2015</ref> In May 2023, a sailor named Bryant Irawan, spotted a pod much further north off the coast of Portugal, which was confirmed by scientists at [https://happywhale.com/home happywhale.com].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Check out Bryant Irawan's sighting on Happywhale! |url=https://happywhale.com/user/19463;enc=372967 |access-date=2024-05-14 |website=happywhale.com |language=en}}</ref> They have been observed along the coast of South America and as far north as the Gulf of Mexico where they have been known to breed during the spring season.<ref name=":0" />

A resident population of pygmy killer whales lives in the waters around Hawaii. Most sightings have been around the main island, however there are occasional sightings around several of the other islands. The population has a tightly connected social structure with affiliations between individuals that can last up to 15 years. Despite the existence of this resident population, sightings of pygmy killer whales around Hawaii are still quite rare; they accounted for less than 1.5% of all cetaceans sighted in a study lasting from 1985 to 2007. This population has been observed associating with false killer whales, short-finned pilot whales, and bottlenose dolphins.<ref name=":4" />

Pygmy killer whales are not commonly reported to be found in Thailand. On August 3, 2024, three pygmy killer whales were found stranded in the mangroves of Ao Kung, [[Phuket]]. Local officials were able to safely rescue them and return them to the sea. This is the first time they have been found in Thailand.<ref>หน้า 12 การศึกษา • ชีวิตคุณภาพ • ในประเทศ, ''ช่วยโลมาเกยตื้นอ่าวกุ้งภูเก็ต''. '''[[Matichon|มติชน]]'''วันอาทิตย์ที่ 4 สิงหาคม พุทธศักราช 2567 ปีที่ 47 ฉบับที่ 16947 {{langx|th|ภาษาไทย}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.thephuketnews.com/pygmy-killer-whales-rescued-from-stranding-in-phuket-mangrove-forest-93188.php |title=Pygmy killer whales rescued from stranding in Phuket mangrove forest |author=Eakkapop Thongtub |work=The Phuket News |date=2024-08-03 |access-date=2024-08-04}}</ref>