Pacific Northwest's endangered orca population rose in 2009
source: http://www.oregonlive.com/environment/index.ssf/2010/01/pacific_northwests_endangered.html
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- jefftego
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The Pacific Northwest's endangered southern resident killer whale population increased in 2009 from 85 to 87 whales, then welcomed another new addition just into the New Year, the Center for Whale Research reports.
During 2009, three of the orcas went missing and five were born, for a net increase of two, said the center, which submitted a census report to the National Marine Fisheries Service.
Three of the calves came from the J pod, the most frequently observed of the three pods (J, K and L) that frequent the inland waters of the Salish Sea in Washington and British Columbia, the center said. On Jan. 3, another calf appeared in J pod, boosting the population to 88 for the time being.
The center said it's optimistic that the baby boom represents a comeback for the resident population, which went into steep decline in the mid-1990s.
Their continued survival depends on sufficient food supplies, particularly spring chinook, the center said. One key: efforts to boost salmon recovery on the Columbia River, source of much of the fish the orcas feed on.
During 2009, three of the orcas went missing and five were born, for a net increase of two, said the center, which submitted a census report to the National Marine Fisheries Service.
Three of the calves came from the J pod, the most frequently observed of the three pods (J, K and L) that frequent the inland waters of the Salish Sea in Washington and British Columbia, the center said. On Jan. 3, another calf appeared in J pod, boosting the population to 88 for the time being.
The center said it's optimistic that the baby boom represents a comeback for the resident population, which went into steep decline in the mid-1990s.
Their continued survival depends on sufficient food supplies, particularly spring chinook, the center said. One key: efforts to boost salmon recovery on the Columbia River, source of much of the fish the orcas feed on.
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jefftego
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Last one.. sorry.. i know current isn't my personal photo album.
- 3 years ago
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jefftego
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jefftego
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My favorite picture from that day...
- 3 years ago
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jefftego
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jefftego
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Agreed. They are remarkable. I was so lucky to be able to go see them this summer on a trip to Vancouver Island.
This is a picture from my trip of some members of K Pod. The one on the left is K11, the matriarch of K pod, a female born in the 1930s. You can ID them from their unique saddle patch markings - the area behind the dorsal.
- 3 years ago
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jefftego
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EthicalVegan
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It's amazingly sad that we're down to low double digits on such a magnificent animal... and yet this becomes a "good news" article. Sigh.
- 3 years ago
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EthicalVegan
