Sad News For The Southern Resident Orca Population

Sad news for the Southern resident orca population: two members of this community have been announced by the Center for Whale Research as missing and are presumed deceased. This brings the total population number down to just 78 individuals. No newborns have been seen since August 2012 (via Orca Network).

"We're saddened to report that the Center for Whale Research has announced that two Southern Resident orcas, L53 Lulu and L100 Indigo, have not been seen with their families in 2014 and are presumed deceased. 37-year-old female L53 lost her mother, L7, in 2010, and had no siblings. L100, a 13-year-old male, was born to L54 Ino and had two siblings, L108, an 8-year-old brother, and L117, born in 2010, gender still unknown. This brings the Southern Residents' overall population down to 78, the same number that led to their listing as endangered under the ESA. No newborns have been seen since August, 2012."