North Atlantic Killer Whales May Be Branching Into Two species:
http://news.sciencemag.org/evolution/2013/08/north-atlantic-killer-whales-may-be-branching-two-species
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VIDEO: "Rare pod of Orca (Killer Whale) in the Arctic Swim with Boat" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vKjdBnO7ShI&feature=youtu.be Researcher Josh McInnes has been encountering Northern resident orca whilst out on the water in pursuit of mighty mammal-eating transients. Here is A060 swimming the waters of Bute Inlet to the North (photo: Josh McInnes). Visit the Transient killer whale Research blog by Josh McInnes (c) for more information about Josh's work: Research expedition: Sorry everyone I have been further to the north searching for cetaceans on a survey. I will be updating the prior events of the transient calf T046C2 in full detail. We had an amazing adventure to the North Vancouver Island in search for marine life. Our main mission was to find transients but instead we ended up watching the Northern resident Apod A5s (A23s, A8s), three humpback whales, 200plus Pacific white sided dolphins, harbour porpoise, harbour seals, Steller sea lions, and numerous marine birds. We had missed the transients by two days. Harpooned orca nearly drowns whalers in Indonesia, as 8 presumed dead swim 16 hours to reach land:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/08/19/orca-whalers-indonesia_n_3779545.html The curious case of Daniel Dukes featuring orca Tilikum:
http://oceanadvocatefl.wordpress.com/2013/08/16/the-curious-case-of-daniel-dukes/ Trapped juvenile transient orca known as Sam (T046C2) rescued successfully by the Vancouver Aquarium and Department of Fisheries and Oceans. http://www.newswire.ca/en/story/1211571/trapped-juvenile-transient-killer-whale-rescued-by-vancouver-aquarium-and-dfo Here is transient orca T046C2, known as Sam. Josh McInnes of theTransient killer whale Research blog by Josh McInnes (c) explains more about Sam's entrapment and rescue (19/08/2013): The last few weeks a transient killer whale designated T046C2 (Aka Sam) was sighted trapped in a small shallow bay on the central coast, Weeteeam Bay on Aristazabal Island. T046C2 was born in 2009 belonging to a group of transients not frequently seen. Researchers from the Vancouver aquarium on board the research vessel "Skana" were on scene. His plaintive cries echoed across the bay. This bay being shallow and narrow usually would not be an issue for transient killer whales, as they usually frequent small bays and inlets in search of their main prey harbour seals that bask on haul outs. Killer whales are very social animals with strong cultural bonds that take time to progress from learned behavior to innate behavior. He was most likely separated during a foraging session, and without the knowledge of the pod on how to maneuver these tricky areas was stranded. He was reported to have been chasing salmon and sea birds with occasional capture of a bird. Transient calves usually are trained to chase and capture marine birds and seals before they move onto larger animals like sea lions or porpoise which are very difficult and can pose a threat to a younger whale.Marine birds are probably the most important animal a young calf could use in training. Over time T046C2 began to show signs of malnutrition with a pronounced dip behind the blowhole which is given the term "peanut." Researchers first attempted to play sounds from his own pod at the entrance of the bay hoping he will reunite with his pod, but the little whale was still reluctant on crossing the entrance of the bay. They than used a line to drag behind him towards the entrance while playing the sounds from his pod. He shot off and through the mouth of the bay, where rumor has it he has joined a new pod. the last news was that T046C2 has joined up with two other transient killer whales which is very important for foraging. There also is a risk of encountering a resident killer whale pod if on his own which maybe dangerous to the young whale. It is very common for females to join other groups for a better success in foraging. With the transient pod structure being very fluid there is a good chance he will be welcomed into a new group. I am currently in contact with the Vancouver Aquarium Cetacean Research Program and I will update you all on the progress of the Sam and on his companions. "Excellent and confronting blogpost by Monika Wieland. No food means no southern residents. We all know it but the reality feels uncomfortable." - via Orcazine Southern resident superpod orca vocalisations recorded August 11th off San Juan Island, Washington State (photos by Alisa Lemire Brooks). It's great to see (and hear) J, K and L pods are back again after many weeks away from their traditional summer foraging waters in Puget Sound! Head over to www.orcaaware.org + check out our Resources page for links to Pacific Northwest hydrophone networks. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pj-RTGi-Yy4&feature=youtu.be Forty-three years ago today, the entire Southern resident orca population was being chased toward Whidbey Island in Washington State with speed boats, M-80 bombs, and low flying planes. By sunset, purse seiners had netted off the mouth of Penn Cove and trapped J, K and L pods inside.
Over the following few days, eight orca calves were sold to aquariums around the world, after having been separated from their mothers, dragged by ropes and nets to a dock, put into slings, lifted by a crane onto a flatbed truck and transported to an airport. Five orcas drowned during the capture, one of them being a mother who was tangled in nets while trying to reach her calf. The other four were calves who drowned in attempts to reach their mothers. As the last calf was being put into a sling at the dock, the entire Southern resident population, who had all been let out of the nets, came over to the baby and started communicating back and forth with her, spy hopping to look at her as she was being lifted out of the water. Once she left the water, all the orcas slowly turned around and headed out of the cove. The orcas captured over the next few days included: 1 year old male Lil’ Nootka, who lasted 7 months in captivity; 2 year old male Ramu 4, who lasted 1 year; less than 1 year old female Wally, who lasted 1 year in a captive environment; 2 year old male Clovis, who lived 2 and a half years; 2 year old female Chappy, who lasted 3 and half years; 5 year old male Jumbo, who lasted 4 years; 4 year old male Winston, who lasted a whopping 15 and a half years in a tank; 4-6 year old female Tokitae, also known as Lolita, who was the last to leave in that sling and is the last Southern resident orca alive in captivity out of the 45 sold to marine parks. She has spent the last 43 years at Miami Seaquarium in Florida, in the smallest orca tank in the USA, a tank so small it does not meet legal tank size requirements set out by American Government. Please remember Lolita as well as all the orcas who were involved in this capture over the next few days (via Melisa Pinnow). Photo: Tokitae/Lolita (via Susan Berta, Orca Network). The Transient killer whale Research blog by Josh McInnes (c) has shared news of a new transient orca calf! August 4, 2013: Hi everyone we have exciting news! We were sent this image from the whale centre in Tofino BC of a new transient orca calf! T041A has had her second calf T041A2! The T041 group used to have a well known male T044 (Ben) who passed away in 2009 near Port Hardy BC. This group spends a lot of the time off the West side of Vancouver Island usually associating with the T069s. This is very exciting news for this group! |
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