Official orca census: 81 whales, including 4 babies

[Omaha Steve]

Source: AP

SEATTLE (AP) — The annual July tally of endangered orcas is complete, and researchers have counted 81 whales, including four babies born since last winter.

Researchers tracking the southern resident killer whales have photo confirmation of each whale and nobody is missing, said Ken Balcomb, a senior scientist with the Center for Whale Research who keeps the official census of Puget Sound killer whales for the federal government. "They're all here."

The orcas that frequent the inland Washington waters are identified by unique black and white markings or variations in their fin shapes.

It's good news that the four baby orcas — one female and three males — have survived so far, Balcomb said.

FULL story at link.



In this July 5, 2015 photo provided by the Pacific Whale Watch Association (PWWA), a baby orca leaps out of the waters of Haro Strait between islands in British Columbia and Washington. The annual July tally of endangered orcas is complete, and researchers have counted 81 whales, including four babies born since last winter. (Clint Rivers/Eagle Wing Tours/PWWA via AP)

Read more: http://bigstory.ap.org/article/e6eae8706ef243ef9b48ea80f86b9112/official-orca-census-81-whales-including-4-babies

[Sunlei]

1. wonderful & scary the population is so low. Are they listed as Critically Endangered, yet?

SeaWorld global has more and their captive bred would never survive in the wild.

[Calista241]

2. Those numbers are just the pod that comes to the bay in Seattle.

Some local populations are considered threatened, like this one, but as far as I know they are not considered an endangered species.

[Sunlei]

3. almost extinct in the wild, one female offspring. at least 30 of them must be breeding age females?

They should be thriving if they really are a protected species.

[cynzke]

4. HOORAY....

I guess!

[niyad]

5. what a beautiful image. I hope the count is good news?

[jmondine]

6. The count is very good news

I am a Seattle area resident and a serious "whale geek".

The big takeaway is that "everyone's here", meaning that there have been no fatalities in the last year, especially among the four calves.

FYI, this is not a census of an entire species. This is just the population of our resident pods, named J, K, and L. 81 is a good population for a top predator considering the territory and available food stocks (our resident pods only eat fish, no sea mammals), but I would like to see that number climb closer to 100 over the next decade or so.

Washington State and BC are very protective of our resident orcas. We have a lot of ongoing work to do in sustaining a clean, healthy aquatic environment and protecting fish stocks, especially the salmon, the orcas' primary food source.

[niyad]

7. thank you for the information. I am glad this is good news. was thinking it was a low number

for entire population.

[Delphinus]

8. Thanks

for the clarification - so glad you say this is very good news.