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J50 and his mother J16 seem to have a parasite
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The picture shows J16 and J50 (female calf, photographed for the first time on 12/30/2014) of the southern resident killer whale community. Wikipedia abstract: "The smallest of the four resident communities of the northwestern part of the Pacific Ocean in North America. It is the only killer whale population listed as Threatened by the US Fish & Wildlife Service. "
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The picture shows J16 and J50 (female calf, photographed for the first time on 12/30/2014) of the southern resident killer whale community. Wikipedia summary: "The smallest of the four Northwestern resident communities
… more
The picture shows J16 and J50 (female calf, photographed for the first time on 12/30/2014) of the southern resident killer whale community. Wikipedia abstract: "The smallest of the four resident communities of the northwestern part of the Pacific Ocean in North America. It is the only killer whale population listed as Threatened by the US Fish & Wildlife Service. "
Less
The picture shows J16 and J50 (female calf, photographed for the first time on 12/30/2014) of the southern resident killer whale community. Wikipedia summary: "The smallest of the four Northwestern resident communities
… more
Scarlett, the southern resident whale is still sick, but the researchers do not give up.
Also known as the J50, Scarlett is the youngest calf in the southern resident group. Recently, however, scientists have observed a "peanut head", a condition that indicates that a killer whale does not get enough nutrients.
Since then, the researchers diagnosed him with a parasite earlier this summer and hoped to give him some doses of medication to improve his condition.
On Saturday, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration released an update that, although Scarlett was catching up on Friday, she was still lagging behind her family group. In addition, his physical condition did not seem to improve and the researchers do not believe that they managed to administer a double dose of dewormer.
"She seemed to have lost more weight and looked very thin," said the NOAA update. "Our greatest priorities are to do everything in our power to keep J50 a significant part of the southern resident population of killer whales and to avoid any harm to their family and himself in all scenarios. ;intervention."
Studying the recovery of J50 has not been the simplest process. Since she is a wild killer whale, researchers can not just test what's wrong with her. Instead, researchers collect fecal samples that reduce the orcs possible to only a few.
There is also the potential that this is not the only thing that is wrong with her or her pod.
"We do not think pests are the main problem that Scarlet is currently experiencing," veterinary veterinarian Dr. Joe Gaydos told KIRO Radio. "Parasitism is not the reason why it is thin and has trouble now, but it is an additional burden and if we can eliminate that burden by giving it a pest control drug, then that will help a lot." "
RELATED: Resident population of the South has fallen by 25% in the 21st century
"Without diagnosis, it is very difficult to design a treatment plan, now we ask ourselves," What are the things we think we can do without a definitive diagnosis? "
They can not simply provide food to the struggling Orc population. Beyond feeding trials to provide vitamins or drugs, researchers can not risk disrupting the pod or the ecosystem by making it dependent on food.
Historically speaking, there is no direct precedent for dealing with J50 as researchers have been. Scarlett remains emaciated, but is still with her family, which means that researchers could do more harm than good if they separated her for treatment.
On August 17, NOAA collected faecal samples and (with the help of genetic testing) was able to determine if the sample was likely from the mother of J50, J16.
"This sample showed signs of parasitic worms" NOAA tweeted. "Since J16 catches the fish that she next shares with J50, the veterinary team prioritized the treatment of the J50 with a dewormer after antibiotics."
This may seem an exaggeration for a killer whale, but J50 – or Scarlet – is not just the pack's baby. The 3 ½ year old is the youngest member of the orcas and the last known to have survived early childhood in a population that has recently fallen to its lowest level in 30 years.
Southern resident whales have gained increased attention after bathing 1,000 miles of J35 with the body of his dead calf, who died a few hours after his birth. Since then, all eyes have turned to killer whales, and Governor Jay Inslee has reduced his efforts to reduce environmental pollution and noise, among other habitat-related hazards.
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