Press Release –
Date: January 11, 2019
Center for Whale Research
Subject: The Southern Resident killer whale population is now 75
On January 10, 2019, TV stations in Seattle aired live aerial footage of several groups of killer whales in Puget Sound near Seattle, and discerning viewers were able to see a very small whale among them. CWR researcher, Melisa Pinnow, was able to see that L pod individuals were in one of the groups with a new baby. It was associated with a female, L77. The whales were still in Puget Sound by nightfall. At 5:45 am this morning they were heard on the CWR sponsored hydrophone at Bush Point in Admiralty Inlet. We dispatched a research team from San Juan Island, and they encountered the whales exiting Admiralty Inlet at 9:50 am with their new baby! The mother is L77, a 31-year old mother of two known calves. Her first known calf was born in 2010 and died the same year, and her second known calf is L119, a female born in 2012. The new calf with her will be designated L124, sex unknown at this time.
Approximately 40% of newborn calves do not survive their first few years, but we hope that this one makes it to maturity, especially if it is female. The Southern Resident killer whale population is now 75.
The Center for Whale Research is dedicated to the study and conservation of the Southern Resident killer whale (orca) population in the Pacific Northwest
ORCA SURVEY Outreach & Education Center
With our Southern Resident orca population at an all-time low, the Center for Whale Research and our supporters need to speak out on behalf of the whales. To address the need for effective public outreach the CWR has opened the Orca Survey Outreach & Education Center in Friday Harbor, SJI.
SUPPORT our Research and Education Efforts
The Southern Resident orcas need your help like never before. For the 74 whales to survive, and for their community to grow, they need us to be their voice. Our goal is to grow the Center for Whale Research membership program to be a strong collective voice for the whales.
New Release, December 11, 2018
TEDEd Animation
The amazing grandmothers of the killer whale pod
Darren Croft
New Release, December 11, 2018
TEDEd Animation
The amazing grandmothers of the killer whale pod
Darren Croft
Let’s Begin…
Pods of killer whales inhabit the waters of every major ocean on Earth. Each family is able to survive thanks mainly to one member, its most knowledgeable hunter: the grandmother. These matriarchs can live 80 years or more and their expertise can mean the difference between life and death for their families. Darren Croft details the lives of killer whales and the dangers facing their survival.
UPDATE
Southern Resident Killer Whale Recovery and Task Force
November 16, 2018
Task Force submits recommendations to Governor Inslee
Today, the Southern Resident Killer Whale Recovery and Task Force delivered its year one Report and Recommendations to Washington Governor Jay Inslee. The report outlines "potential options to address the major threats to [the] Southern Residents [orcas], including prey availability, toxic contaminants and disturbance from noise and vessel traffic."
CWR Ken Balcomb's letter to Governor Inslee about Task Force's year one Report and Recommendations
Dear Governor Inslee,
Thank you for your good faith effort to convene a Task Force to make recommendations to you regarding how to recover the Southern Resident Killer Whale population, and for the honor of inviting my participation in the process. You have before you the list of recommendations that were discussed at length among the Task Force members, and I herein submit my minority report ...
Memorandum of Facts regarding Orca Demographics
To: Federal Agencies involved in Restoration of the population called Southern Resident Killer Whale (SRKW), listed as Endangered under the ESA
I have conducted research on the “Southern Resident” population of killer whales (Orcinus orca) in the eastern North Pacific Ocean and adjacent inland marine waters since 1976, following the ending of captures of these animals for the public display industry. Approximately fifty killer whales had been removed from this population in a ten year period prior to my research and seventy remained. I have kept records of all births and deaths determined for this population from April 1976 to date.
Co-chair of the Task Force, Stephanie Solien, announcing the release of the year one report and recommendations (Q13 broadcast via Facebook)
SRKW Task Force Background
On March 14, 2018, State of Washington Governor Jay Inslee signed Executive Order 18-02: “. . . designating state agencies to take several immediate actions to benefit Southern Residents [killer whales], and establishing a Task Force to develop longer-term action recommendations for orca recovery and future sustainability.”
The Southern Resident Killer Whale Recovery and Task Force include representatives from the state legislature; officials from tribal, federal, local, and other state governments and the Government of Canada; and spokespersons for the non-profit sector and private sectors.
The Task Force was “charged with preparing a comprehensive report and recommendations for recovering Southern Residents, with a full draft due by October 1, 2018, and a final report by November 1, 2018. The report should detail actions that will address all of the major threats to Southern Residents, including prey availability, toxic contaminants, and disturbance from noise and vessel traffic. A second report outlining the progress made, lessons learned, and outstanding needs will be completed by October 1, 2019.”
Final Task Force Meeting: November 6
Puyallup, Washington
Materials presented at the meeting included:
TVW coverage of the November 6 Southern Resident Killer Whale Recovery and Task Force meeting included public comment and the Task Force's Consensus Vote on Final Package of Recommendations to be submitted by November 16 to Washington Governor, Jay Inslee.
Merci beaucoup pour le soutien de la France!
YouTube producers Morgane (Little Gypsy) and Lea presented Ken Balcomb and the Center For Whale Research with a donation as a result of their successful #WeAreTheOrca crowdfunding campaign in France. The funds raised for CWR will go directly towards continued research. We are extremely grateful to Morgane, Lea and all of their supporters in France that care about helping the endangered resident whales. Merci! See YouTube video
The Center For Whale Research team members are proudly wearing their bracelets. As Morgane Trussardi, founder of #wearetheorca stated, “We will all be linked ❤️”
The #WeAreTheOrca team from France launched a new bracelet today to raise awareness and funds for the Center for Whale Research, as well as two other regional organizations supporting the Southern Resident Killer Whales and Chinook Salmon.
With the sale of each bracelet, #WeAreTheOrca donates 3 euros (approx. $3.40 US) to CWR for continued research on the Southern Resident Killer Whales, as well as 3 euros each to Alexandra Morten project and The Whale Museum. The bracelets are made in France with sustainable products by people with disabilities.
Here is the link to order: #wearetheorca
Ken Balcomb Interview
A must see interview with Ken Balcomb speaking about the critically endangered Southern Resident orcas. Production by Peterson/Hawley Productions .
43 years of
WHALE RESEARCH
For over four decades, the Center for Whale Research has been conducting annual photo-ID (photo-identification) studies, Orca Survey, of Southern Resident killer whales – one of the most magnificent and beloved animal populations in the world. Our long-term research has generated unprecedented baseline information on the whales’ population dynamics, health, demography, social structure, and individual life histories. Thanks to the Center’s research, more detail is known about the endangered Southern Resident killer whales than any other group of marine mammals in the world. As a non-profit 501(c) 3 organization, our mission is to facilitate the recovery of this beloved population of Orcas through non-invasive scientific study, public awareness and education, and conservation action. Please support our important work today!