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Another resident killer whale in the South could be in trouble.
K25, a 25-year-old orc, is losing health. Recent photos compared to a year ago show that he is losing weight.
However, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, this is not as serious as what the J50 looked like before it disappeared.
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"Aerial photos are an early indicator of changes in fitness and help us identify whales at risk," said Lynne Barre, NOAA Fisheries Recovery Coordinator for Southern Resident Killer Whales. "Although the decline in body condition of K25 is not as severe as that seen with J50 this summer, it is a warning signal."
It is possible that the death of K13's mother, K13, has an impact on her nutrition. Mothers help feed their sons even later in life. K25 is close to the average life span of 30 years for male killer whales.
The population of southern residents decreased to about 74 when J50 died earlier this month. The last few months have been marked by the death of L92, the newborn of J35 and J50.
Southern resident killer whales have been listed as Endangered since 2005.
There is positive news from the local population of orcas. At least three advanced pregnancies are confirmed in pods J, K and L – one pregnancy in each.
"The aerial photos also indicate that at least one whale in each pod is pregnant. This is a vital news for this critically endangered population, "said Scott Rumsey, deputy regional administrator for the NOAA West Coast Fisheries Region.
NOAA requires boaters to stay away from killer whales and slow down to reduce noise to help feed them.
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Southern resident killer whales are often spotted near the San Juan Islands during the warmer months. They spend much of their winter along the coast in the Pacific Ocean, hunting for salmon when numbers decrease in the Salish Sea.
© 2018 KING
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