Killer Whale "baby boom"
source: http://www.timescolonist.com/technology/Whale+baby+boom+Island/2218126/story.html
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- jefftego
- added this
A brand-new killer-whale calf has made its first public appearance off the Victoria waterfront.
The birth is the fifth this year for the three endangered resident killer-whale pods and brings the total number of animals in the pods to 87.
"It's a baby boom," said Howard Garrett of Orca Network, a group that runs a whale-sighting network.
With gestation taking 17 months from the spring and summer mating season, calves are often born in the fall and winter, he said.
There were seven deaths last year in the summer-resident pods, sparking concerns about their survival, especially since some of the whales showed signs of malnutrition before they disappeared.
The lowest documented number of summer residents was 71 in 1973 and 1976, following years of shootings and captures. Thirty years later, in 1996, the animals were back up to a high of 97. Historically, the three pods had about 120 members.
The birth is the fifth this year for the three endangered resident killer-whale pods and brings the total number of animals in the pods to 87.
"It's a baby boom," said Howard Garrett of Orca Network, a group that runs a whale-sighting network.
With gestation taking 17 months from the spring and summer mating season, calves are often born in the fall and winter, he said.
There were seven deaths last year in the summer-resident pods, sparking concerns about their survival, especially since some of the whales showed signs of malnutrition before they disappeared.
The lowest documented number of summer residents was 71 in 1973 and 1976, following years of shootings and captures. Thirty years later, in 1996, the animals were back up to a high of 97. Historically, the three pods had about 120 members.
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- groups:
- Community, Green, Oceans, Animal Rights
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- tags:
- Dolphins, orcas, killer whales, puget sound
