Southern Resident Killer Whales

Southern resident killer whale K34 has not been seen during the Center for Whale Research’s last three encounters with K Pod. (Center for Whale Research/Facebook)

Waters off Vancouver Island being watched for missing orca

Missing orca most likely dead but whale groups still holding out hope

 

Researchers believe the young whale, pictured here off Tofino on June 19, is a newborn belonging to L-pod. (Courtesy of Howie Tom)

Orca newborn seen off Tofino believed to be pod’s first calf in years

Researchers say the calf was seen swimming with L-pod this month

 

Researchers from NOAA’s Fisheries Northwest Fisheries Science Center and other scientists have used a new technique to determine the age of southern resident killer whales and other whales. Pictured is a new baby orca in the J-Pod of the Southern Resident Killer Whales, spotted off of the shores of Tofino. (Photo credit: John Forde and Jennifer Steven)

New method helping scientists gauge age of Southern Resident killer whales

Exploring their ‘epigenetic clock’ could identify trends and stressors within whale populations

 

A Fisheries and Oceans Canada boat practicing using their oikomi pipes to deter marine life during the fuel spill response to a sunken fishing boat on August 25, 2022. (Courtesy of NOAA Northwest Fishers Science Centre)

Coordinated response helped protect orcas during fuel spill off Victoria: NOAA

U.S. and Canadian agencies worked together to deter orcas from the affected areas

A Fisheries and Oceans Canada boat practicing using their oikomi pipes to deter marine life during the fuel spill response to a sunken fishing boat on August 25, 2022. (Courtesy of NOAA Northwest Fishers Science Centre)
A Southern Resident female orca leaps from the water while breaching in Puget Sound, west of Seattle. Females examined in a new study were capturing less prey and spent less time hunting than their male counterparts, contrary to previously understood gender behaviour among southern residents. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson, File)

Study finds endangered orcas hunting longer, catching less than northern B.C. counterparts

Possible hunting gender flip in Southern Resident killer whales as keystone females save energy

A Southern Resident female orca leaps from the water while breaching in Puget Sound, west of Seattle. Females examined in a new study were capturing less prey and spent less time hunting than their male counterparts, contrary to previously understood gender behaviour among southern residents. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson, File)
Killer whales are shown in Chatham Sound near Prince Rupert, B.C., Friday, June, 22, 2018. The endangered southern resident killer whale population suffered more loss with one of the orcas possibly dying of cancer, says an expert. THE CANADIAN PRESS Jonathan Hayward

B.C. orca mothers pay a higher price for birthing sons than daughters: study

Having a male orca can cut a mother’s future childbearing success in half, researchers found

Killer whales are shown in Chatham Sound near Prince Rupert, B.C., Friday, June, 22, 2018. The endangered southern resident killer whale population suffered more loss with one of the orcas possibly dying of cancer, says an expert. THE CANADIAN PRESS Jonathan Hayward
A UBC study examining orca bodies found between 2006 and 2018 has found a number of concerning chemicals inside them, including in endangered southern resident killer whales (pictured). (Credit: Paul Cottrell, DFO)

Toxic chemicals from B.C.’s sewage are making their way inside orcas, UBC study finds

Compound in toilet paper can influence cognitive function, say researchers

A UBC study examining orca bodies found between 2006 and 2018 has found a number of concerning chemicals inside them, including in endangered southern resident killer whales (pictured). (Credit: Paul Cottrell, DFO)
Southern resident killer whale calf, named K45, has been identified as a girl. (Courtesy of Fisheries and Oceans Canada)

Girls just want to have chum: New southern resident killer whale a female

The whale, named K45, is the first born to K-pod since 2011

Southern resident killer whale calf, named K45, has been identified as a girl. (Courtesy of Fisheries and Oceans Canada)
Southern resident killer whale L89 has been pronounced dead after not being seen at all in 2022. The male is seen here in a photograph taken in 2020. (Courtesy of the Centre for Whale Research)

Southern resident killer whale population falls to 73: U.S. researchers

Three males pronounced dead since mid-2021, at least two calfs born since

Southern resident killer whale L89 has been pronounced dead after not being seen at all in 2022. The male is seen here in a photograph taken in 2020. (Courtesy of the Centre for Whale Research)
The Aleutian Isle sees the surface for the first time on Sept. 17, over a month after it sank off of San Juan Island. (Courtesy of U.S. Coast Guard Pacific Northwest)

Fuel-leaking fishing boat pulled to surface one month after sinking near Victoria

Ongoing response looks to move the boat without releasing remaining fuel

The Aleutian Isle sees the surface for the first time on Sept. 17, over a month after it sank off of San Juan Island. (Courtesy of U.S. Coast Guard Pacific Northwest)
The Aleutian Isle sees the surface for the first time on Sept. 17, over a month after it sank off of San Juan Island. (Courtesy of U.S. Coast Guard Pacific Northwest)

Fuel-leaking fishing boat pulled to surface one month after sinking near Victoria

Ongoing response looks to move the boat without releasing remaining fuel

The Aleutian Isle sees the surface for the first time on Sept. 17, over a month after it sank off of San Juan Island. (Courtesy of U.S. Coast Guard Pacific Northwest)
A fuel-absorbing boom in an ecologically sensitive area near Washington state’s San Juan Island on Aug. 17. (U.S. Coast Guard Pacific Northwest/Twitter)

Crane arriving later this week to pull fuel-leaking boat from waters near Greater Victoria

Aleutian Isle sank on Aug. 13, causing diesel spill

A fuel-absorbing boom in an ecologically sensitive area near Washington state’s San Juan Island on Aug. 17. (U.S. Coast Guard Pacific Northwest/Twitter)
The U.S. Coast Guard on Aug. 16 recovers most of a seine fishing net that detached from a vessel that sank off between Washington state and Greater Victoria on Aug. 13. (U.S. Coast Guard Pacific Northwest/Twitter)

Currents, depth continue to hamper fuel spill response near Victoria

Accessing fishing boat still presenting a challenge, almost a week after it sank

The U.S. Coast Guard on Aug. 16 recovers most of a seine fishing net that detached from a vessel that sank off between Washington state and Greater Victoria on Aug. 13. (U.S. Coast Guard Pacific Northwest/Twitter)
The Raincoast Conservation Foundation modelled how an oil tanker spill off south Vancouver Island would impact different wildlife in the area. (Courtesy of the Raincoast Conservation Foundation)

Eco groups say spectre of future oil tanker spill looms after fuel leak near Victoria

Diesel still leaking from fishing boat, 5 days after it sunk off San Juan Island

The Raincoast Conservation Foundation modelled how an oil tanker spill off south Vancouver Island would impact different wildlife in the area. (Courtesy of the Raincoast Conservation Foundation)
During response activities Tuesday (Aug. 16) U.S. Coast Guard personnel recover most of a seine fishing net that detached from a vessel that sank off San Juan Island near Greater Victoria on Aug. 13. (U.S. Coast Guard Pacific Northwest/Twitter)

Endangered orcas’ close call with fuel spill off Victoria a ‘wake-up call’: researcher

A quicker response was needed to protect marine wildlife, says U.S. institute

During response activities Tuesday (Aug. 16) U.S. Coast Guard personnel recover most of a seine fishing net that detached from a vessel that sank off San Juan Island near Greater Victoria on Aug. 13. (U.S. Coast Guard Pacific Northwest/Twitter)
Partner response agencies have deployed about 2,100 feet of absorbent booms in the waters between Greater Victoria and San Juan Island since a fishing boat sank and leaked fuel on Aug, 13. (U.S. Coast Guard Pacific Northwest/Twitter)

Fuel-leaking fishing boat falls deeper, complicating response near Victoria

Endangered orcas still headed in opposite direction of spill

Partner response agencies have deployed about 2,100 feet of absorbent booms in the waters between Greater Victoria and San Juan Island since a fishing boat sank and leaked fuel on Aug, 13. (U.S. Coast Guard Pacific Northwest/Twitter)
A response vessel with a vacuum truck on board is shown off San Juan Island, Washington, in this recent handout photo. The United States Coast Guard says commercial divers are assessing a sunken fishing boat that went down Saturday in waters on the U.S. side of Haro Strait and is leaking fuel not far from southern Vancouver Island. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO - U.S. Coast Guard

Fear for B.C.’s endangered orcas after U.S. boat sinks with 10,000 litres of fuel near Victoria

There are only 74 southern resident killer whales remaining

A response vessel with a vacuum truck on board is shown off San Juan Island, Washington, in this recent handout photo. The United States Coast Guard says commercial divers are assessing a sunken fishing boat that went down Saturday in waters on the U.S. side of Haro Strait and is leaking fuel not far from southern Vancouver Island. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO - U.S. Coast Guard
A young southern resident killer whale (left), shown in a handout photo, spotted swimming in the waters off the west side of Vancouver Island now has a name. The Center for Whale Research based in Washington state says it has dubbed the latest addition to K Pod as K45 after staff spotted it in a tight group with other family members northeast of Race Rocks on Saturday. CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Centre for Whale Research

Researchers name newest baby orca spotted off Vancouver Island

K45 is K Pod’s first baby since 2011

A young southern resident killer whale (left), shown in a handout photo, spotted swimming in the waters off the west side of Vancouver Island now has a name. The Center for Whale Research based in Washington state says it has dubbed the latest addition to K Pod as K45 after staff spotted it in a tight group with other family members northeast of Race Rocks on Saturday. CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Centre for Whale Research
A young southern resident killer whale (left), shown in a handout photo, spotted swimming in the waters off the west side of Vancouver Island now has a name. The Center for Whale Research based in Washington state says it has dubbed the latest addition to K Pod as K45 after staff spotted it in a tight group with other family members northeast of Race Rocks on Saturday. CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Centre for Whale Research

Researchers name newest baby orca spotted in B.C. waters

K45 is K Pod’s first baby since 2011

A young southern resident killer whale (left), shown in a handout photo, spotted swimming in the waters off the west side of Vancouver Island now has a name. The Center for Whale Research based in Washington state says it has dubbed the latest addition to K Pod as K45 after staff spotted it in a tight group with other family members northeast of Race Rocks on Saturday. CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Centre for Whale Research
A J-pod southern resident killer whale pictured in 2018 versus this year. Twelve J- and K-pod whales were deemed vulnerable by Washington state on June 30. (Courtesy of SR3 Sealife Response, Rehabilitation, and Research/Washington state)

12 southern resident killer whales designated as ‘vulnerable’

The whales have been identified as pregnant or in poor condition

A J-pod southern resident killer whale pictured in 2018 versus this year. Twelve J- and K-pod whales were deemed vulnerable by Washington state on June 30. (Courtesy of SR3 Sealife Response, Rehabilitation, and Research/Washington state)