#Pregnant Southern Resident killer Whales

[asterwild]

[Image description: Digital art of an orca mother and calf swimming beside each other. In the blue watery background, there are shapes of five more orcas swimming in the distance.]

It’s very tentative good news, but good news nonetheless:

Between September 2020 and now (October 2021) the Southern Resident Killer Whales have had three births and three more pregnancies were recently confirmed.

It’s a fragile hope, as these orcas are known to have a high miscarriage and infant mortality rate. For a population of just over 70 whales, every one matters. In September, Washington DFW declared the three pregnant J-pod females and a 2-year old in poor condition as “vulnerable,” requiring whale-watching boats to remain at least half a mile from these individuals instead the usual distances outlined at bewhalewise.org

Good luck babies!

[csnews]

Museum exhibit showcases wonder, challenges facing orcas

Darron Kloster - March 28, 2021

He was known as Ruffles and numbered J1. The big male orca, named for his tall jagged dorsal fin, was one of the first southern resident killer whales identified by scientists in J-Pod in the 1970s. The nine-metre J1 lived a full life, fathering at least 16 calves in all three southern resident pods — J, K and L. Twelve of them are still alive and his legacy continues with 12 grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

Ruffles was estimated to be 60 when he disappeared in 2010 and was presumed dead. But the mighty orca lives on. He’s one of three life-size replicas going on display at the Royal British Columbia Museum’s feature exhibition Orcas: Our Shared Future, which opens April 16 and runs to January 2022.

The event was cancelled last year due to pandemic restrictions, but is back on track during a critical time for the beloved but struggling marine mammals. Southern resident orcas now number 75 after three births over the past six months, but their struggle for food, chiefly chinook salmon, continues.

Gavin Hanke, curator for vertebrate zoology at the Royal B.C. Museum and one of the chief scientists behind the exhibit, said people have developed a kinship with the resident orcas, as the various family groups navigate an increasingly complex world of food supply, pollution, toxins and marine traffic that interfere with communication in their traditional areas.

“People love wolves and grizzly bears, too, and the Biggs [transient] orcas, but they are not coded, named and recognized as individuals,” Hanke said. “The residents are like people. They have names, families, history and that’s what’s so great to see. These are highly intelligent animals and we should appreciate them.”

The three replica orcas also include Slick, or J16, at 49 the oldest female in J-Pod who is still swimming the Salish Sea, and her daughter, Scarlett, or J-50. Scarlett, who died in 2018, made international headlines when the three-year-old was discovered severely underweight. Scientists from Canada and the U.S. tried to feed her salmon and administered antibiotic darts, attempting a capture to provide medical assistance.

Hanke said the replica models were created using years of photographs and measurements taken from drone video. The exhibit also contains the skeletal remains of J-32, or Rhapsody, an 18-year-old pregnant juvenile found dead near Comox in 2014.

Necropsy results indicated Rhapsody died from an infection linked to her near-term fetus. Her body was filled with toxic contaminants often found stored in orcas’ and whales’ blubber, said Hanke.

“The organs, blubber and muscle had to be disposed of in the landfill, in the toxic-waste section, because of the contaminants in her body,” said Hanke.

Rhapsody’s story and skeletal remains — as well as those of her fetus — will be a centrepiece of the museum’s display and bring attention to the plight of the southern residents, said Hanke.

“Her story personally changed me,” said Hanke. “She was eating salmon for 18 years with toxic waste. I gave up fishing, try to grow most of my own food. We drive an electric car now.”

Fewer boats on the water during the pandemic have likely helped the orcas, improving echolocation techniques in finding food. For orcas, heavy boat and freighter traffic is like “being in a pub that’s super noisy. You almost have to yell to be heard,” said Hanke.

He said many whale-watching companies are being responsible and keeping their distance. There are also boaters who are converting to electric motors, and whale-watching land observation posts are being developed.

“A partner in the exhibition, Eagle Wing Tours, often takes people out to view the transient orcas, as opposed to the southern residents,” said Hanke.

The museum’s exhibition is taking a deep dive into the stories and science that surround the apex predator of the oceans. Visitors can explore ecological activism, popular culture and Indigenous beliefs to gain a deeper understanding of how orcas and humans are inextricably connected.

“This is a timely and challenging story — and one that we are uniquely qualified to tell,” said museum board chair and acting CEO Dr. Daniel Muzyka in a statement. “Our unique collections, curatorial expertise, and physical and emotional proximity to orcas and oceans combine in an edifying and ultimately hopeful experience that affirms we are all part of nature — not apart from nature.”

Among the artifacts on display are rare cultural objects by Indigenous artists, including an articulated dance mask by Richard Hunt (Kwaguilth), an intricately carved gold killer whale box by Bill Reid (Haida), and a commissioned painting by Haida manga artist Michael Nicoll Yahgulanaas.

The exhibition includes a companion publication that brings together the work of marine biologists, Indigenous knowledge keepers, poets, artists and storytellers. Spirits of the Coast: Orcas in Science, Art and History is edited by Hanke, Martha Black and Lorne Hammond and available at local bookshops, the Royal Museum Shop and online at rbcm.ca/books.

The exhibition has been designed to travel to other museums during the UNESCO Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021-2030). The museum is following pandemic safety protocols. To purchase timed tickets, visit rbcm.ca/orcas.

[snazzyaddie]

Sorry for those who know nothing about the southern resident killer whales-

Guys! J46 "Star" is very, very pregnant!

Hopefully it's a successful pregnancy *crosses fingers*

[rjzimmerman]

From bad news (wildlife deaths in Australia during the bushfires) to this good news.

Excerpt from this story from EcoWatch:

Tahlequah, the southern resident killer whale who broke hearts around the world when she carried her dead calf for 17 days and more than 1,000 miles, is pregnant again.

Tahlequah's grueling journey called attention to the plight of the endangered orcas who roam the waters between Washington state and British Columbia. The animals are threatened by boat traffic, pollution and the decline in their food staple chinook salmon.

"There are stressed whales out there, critically stressed," Holly Fearnbach, marine mammal research director for the nonprofit SR3, told The Associated Press.

Fearnbach discovered Tahlequah, or J-35's, pregnancy while recording drone images of the southern resident killer whales with Southall Environmental Associates senior scientist John Durban, The Seattle Times reported.

The purpose of the drone photographs was to track the orcas' overall condition and nutrition over time in a non-invasive manner, SR3 explained. (The drone flies more than 100 feet above the whales, according to The Seattle Times.) But comparing the photographs revealed several pregnancies in J, K and L pods.

Orca pregnancies are common, but successful births are far less so. Two thirds of them are typically lost, Center for Conservation Biology at the University of Washington researcher Sam Wasser has found. This is mostly due to poor nutrition linked to a decline in salmon.

When Tahlequah gave birth two years ago, it was the first birth for southern residents in three years. Since then, two other calves have been born to the orcas, and both are still alive. However, the population as a whole is down to just 73 whales, according to a Center for Whale Research population census.

[allthecanadianpolitics]

After months of bad news, there finally may be a glimmer of hope for B.C.'s endangered southern resident killer whales.

On Friday, researchers confirmed that recent helicopter video filmed by the Seattle TV station King 5 News shows a new baby orca swimming with members of L pod.

The video, shot Thursday near Vachon Island in Washington state, shows the calf swimming next to the killer whale known as L77, who had previously been pregnant.

Ken Balcomb, founding director of the U.S.-based Center for Whale Research, confirmed that that this is the first sighting of the new calf. The young whale's gender is unknown.

Continue Reading.

[paponika]

On a routine research trip, two marine biologists were struck by what they saw in the waters of the

On a routine research trip, two marine biologists were struck by what they saw in the waters of the Pacific Northwest: three endangered orcas with bulges indicating that they are pregnant. The discovery was delightful — there are only 73 southern resident killer whales in the wild, and time is running out to save the species from extinction. Orcas, also called killer whales, give birth to one baby at a time, every three to 10 years. The pregnancies are notable because the total southern resident killer whale population is at its lowest point since the 1970s. Just 44 orcas have been born since 1998, and within the same time frame, 81 have died or disappeared. One captured the world’s attention in 2018 when she gave birth, then carried her dead calf for 17 days and more than 1,000 miles. The prospect of a small baby boom is critical, scientists say, because it could help bring the species back from the brink of extinction. Read more through the link in our bio.

Note: All rights belong to their respective owners #livenews, #cablenews, #usnews, #businessnews, #worldnews, #news, #eveningnews, #nightlynews, #breakingnews, #nightlynewsnbc, #nbcnewsnow, #newsnbc, #nbcnewslive, #nbcnewstoday, #newstoday, #newsstation, #stockmarket, #nbcnewslivetoday, #newsnbclive, #nbcnewslivestream, #nbcnewsspecialreport, #newswithshepardsmith, #coroner, #nbclive, #nbc, #abc, #nbcspecialreport, #report, #Iamlatest #latesttrend #latestnews #latestissue #latestart #latestpicture #latestupdate #FoxNews #CNN #SkyNews #AlJazeera #BBC #MSNBC #Euronews #GeoNews #NDTVIndia

[alexalbert-blog-blog]

3 'critically endangered' killer whales from Canada are pregnant, scientists say : worldnews

3 ‘critically endangered’ killer whales from Canada are pregnant, scientists say : worldnews

This is the best tl;dr I could make, original reduced by 86%. (I’m a bot) The three pregnancies are in what scientists call the “J-pod,” a group of southern resident killer whales. Members of the pod are named starting with the letter “J” and a number; the three mothers-to-be are J19, J36 and J37. University of British Columbia researcher Josh McInnes, with the marine mammal research unit at…

[salishseaselkie]

Why I am Pissed About the Anti-Whale Watch Rhetoric

Let me give you a scenario. To many of you, it is a familiar one. You are standing on a beach with a few other people, watching for whales - killer whales, gray whales, humpback whales, etc. - and you see a boat. Maybe it is a private boat. Maybe it is an ecotourism boat. Let’s assume that it is a whale watch boat. You hear someone next to you say, “That boat is way too close!” And you look, and it seems as though the whales are surfacing right next to the whales. So you all talk and chatter and grumble about how close the boat is to the whales. Suddenly, the conversation turns to how horrible the whale watching industry is. Somebody may even call WDFW or NOAA to alert them to this boat’s presence.

Let me tell you something. Water distorts distance. I guarantee you that the photos coming from that whale watch are from further than the federal and state law requires. Most of the whale watch companies are members of the Pacific Whale Watch Association, and they take the rules Very Seriously™. Companies have been expelled for bad behavior on the water. Let me also tell you that every time you call WDFW or NOAA on the whale watch boats, you are taking up precious time and money that could that be devoted to other tasks. When they call the companies to let them know that there have been complaints submitted against them, it is almost always accompanied with an apology, because they know it is unlikely we actually did anything wrong.

Now, we can talk about how the demand of a moratorium on whale watching, either on just Southern Residents or in its entirety, has acted as a very convenient distraction for DFO to push through the antiquated herring fishery quotas that are based on population estimates from decades ago. We can talk about how it is a distraction from how the Canadian government is STILL trying to push through the Trans Mountain Pipeline (if you actually care about vessel noise, this is the thing to push against, as the pipeline and the Roberts Bank 2 Project will increase tanker traffic TENFOLD). We can talk about how it is a distraction for NOAA to do absolutely nothing about salmon quotas here in the States to save face with the fishing lobby. We can talk about how WDFW pushed through open-net pen fish farms for native steelhead (whether they are native fish or not is not the problem; a pen of fish swimming close together is asking for an epidemic). We can talk about how researchers lose out when whale watch boats cannot be on scene with these animals, as the naturalists who work on them are actual biologists and know how to identify individual whales in addition to noting if individuals are sick, pregnant, or missing, and can relay the information to those researchers, who do not necessarily have the resources to acquire that information on their own. We can talk about how even WDFW’s own enforcement officers have advocated against removal of whale watch boats from the water when Southern Residents are present because we act as sentinels on the water as well. We see misbehaving boats, alert the boats to the presence of the whales, and can educate them as to how best to drive while on scene with whales. If boats continue to misbehave, we can alert WDFW enforcement to them, and they can then act as a second line of defense. On any given day on the water, WDFW only has one boat available, and with the pandemic, we had a day where there were more than 30 boats on scene with whales. One boat cannot control that many other boats.

We can talk about all that. What I want to talk about it how this whole narrative has spun out of control. My friends have been harassed, threatened, personally attacked, and made to feel subhuman. So many people have left this line of work because they cannot take the constant barrage of cruelty from people who believe that they are protecting the whales. Nowhere else in the world is this attitude as prominent or as vicious, even though the whale-watching regulations here are some of the tightest in the world. The bar for getting a job on these boats is often high, requiring a B.Sc. in biology or ecology, something you don’t always find in ecotourism. And we are getting chased out because people believe we are killing the whales.

But guess what? We are protecting them. And the cumulative effect of less than thirty smaller (compared to ferries or shipping vessels, which account for more than 90% of all noise pollution in the Salish Sea) on whales who are barely here anymore because THEY DON’T HAVE ANYMORE FOOD HERE is negligible when you take into account for all the good we do. When we are on scene with them, we are not only educating our passengers who come from all around the world, we are acting on behalf of other researchers, and we are acting on behalf of these whales to other vessels, including the ferries, the American and Canadian Navies, and the scads of private boats in the San Juan Islands and Puget Sound. It is soulful, gratifying work. And we get chased out because there is a prominent mob mentality that wishes to eradicate us completely. Orca Relief Citizen’s Alliance, the Whale Trail, the Whale Museum, and Friends of the San Juan Islands are most vocal on this subject, and I can guarantee all of them depend on donations from this very same mob who pursue us with torches and pitchforks. It spirals and spirals, and all the while we in the industry have been antagonized and attacked with an almost religious zeal. I am done watching my friends, who are highly qualified and who care deeply for these whales and their well-being, be emotionally traumatized by the likes of those who have never set foot on a boat and have no idea what they are talking about. The lack of perspective is galling and it only hurts the whales in the long run as we lose those necessary eyes on the water.

We love these whales. We do what we do because we know that just talking to our friends and family at home about whales they have never seen doesn’t have an emotional impact necessary to make them care. It is all hypothetical, and you can’t schedule whales to be available at any given shoreline when people from out of town come in to see them. You have to take them to the whales sometimes, and the effect is almost magical. It makes the whole thing worth it. They are transformed, they ask all kind of questions to better understand the whales, and when they leave, they ask what they can do to save them. If we cannot act in the capacity of educators, of researchers, of sentinels, we and potential passengers lose that emotional connection, they lose that history, and they lose the experience that galvanizes a desire to save these whales. So please. When talking about whale watching, please remember that we are human beings who are doing our best. We are doing our best to balance bringing people to these whales and respecting the whales’ space as well. We have emotions and fragile hearts that are deserving of respect as well as compassion. And if you are still unsure, then do me a favor. Call a whale watch company and tell them you need convincing. You may not like buying a ticket, but it will open your eyes to our process, our passion, and our persisting endeavor to save these animals. Then you at least will have the knowledge you need to have the full perspective.

[snini-9]

A New Calf in J Pod

J57 with J35 Tahlequah 

J57 with J35 Tahlequah and older brother J47 Notch 

“On Saturday, September 5, 2020, J pod was reported near the ODAS buoy off Dungeness Spit in the eastern Strait of Juan de Fuca in US waters. Another large group of the endangered Southern Resident killer whales was a few miles away near Race Rocks in Canadian waters swimming toward them. Hooray! At last, we might encounter a ‘superpod’ aggregation of J, K, and L pod whales in the inshore waters of the Salish Sea for the first time this year. So we launched three boats with researchers (two from San Juan Island and one from Victoria) to photo-identify every individual for a population census. Usually, we have an accurate census of these charismatic Pacific Northwest ‘residents’ by July 1 each year. But this year, the salmon spawning migrations to the Fraser River have been so poor that the whales that must eat these salmon to survive have rarely come into what used to be their core summer habitat. A few small groups of these critically endangered whales have ventured inshore in July, and J pod in its entirety came to San Juan Island on September 1. J pod has remained in the general area since then; but, the last time we had some members from all pods was on January 25!

We have had comprehensive encounters with J pod in Haro Strait on September 1 and 3, 2020, at which times we monitored pregnant females J35 and J41 very carefully and saw that they had not yet given birth. On September 5, we followed up on a report from one of the PWWA whalewatchers that a very small calf was seen. Our researchers, Dave Ellifrit and Katie Jones, accompanied by guest veterinarian Dr. Sarah Bahan, quickly identified the mother as J35, Tahlequah. She made world news in the summer of 2018 when she carried her dead calf on her head for 17 days while the pod traveled about 1,000 miles around the Salish Sea on what we termed a “Tour of Grief.” She was still capable of producing a live calf after an approximate eighteen-month gestation! Hooray! Her new calf appeared healthy and precocious, swimming vigorously alongside its mother in its second day of free-swimming life. We know that it was not born today because its dorsal fin was upright, and we know that it takes a day or two to straighten after being bent over in the womb, so we assign its birthday as September 4, 2020. (Ergo gestation commenced in February 2019). Tahlequah was mostly separate from the other whales and being very evasive as she crossed the border into Canada, so we ended our encounter with her after a few minutes and wished them well on their way.

We hope this calf is a success story. Regrettably, with the whales having so much nutritional stress in recent years, a large percentage of pregnancies fail, and there is about a 40% mortality for young calves.

​With this new calf in J pod, that we designate as J57, the SRKW population now numbers 73, although the official number for July 1 is estimated to be 72. We have to sort through all of the photos to see which whales were alive yesterday, and it follows that they would have been alive on July 1. The July census is used for consistency in comparison with the Northern Resident killer whale (NRKW) population monitored by DFO Canada.” -CWR

J41 Eclipse is pregnant! That makes at least 3 pregnancies! (L72 Racer, J41 Eclipse, an unknown K pod female (ID hasn't been released, possibly K20 Spock (speculation by internet folks based off of a pic of her where she looks robust))).

[csnews]

Nearby Vessels Interrupt Feeding of Southern Resident Killer Whales, Especially Females

NOAA Fisheries - January 12, 2021

Boat traffic within 400 yards of endangered Southern Resident killer whales interrupts their foraging, often leading female whales to cease feeding altogether. That is a key finding from a new analysis of data from suction-cup tags that track the whales’ movement underwater.

Previous research observed surface behavior of the killer whales in response to vessels, while the tags allow researchers to discern their behavior during extended dives underwater. This data shows that nearby vessel traffic inhibits their underwater foraging as much or more than what scientists previously documented at the surface. These new results were published in Frontiers in Marine Science.

“We found a bigger effect in females, and that effect was more often that they gave up foraging if vessels encroached on them,” said research scientist Marla Holt at NOAA Fisheries’ Northwest Fisheries Science Center. The analysis examined whale behavior over 3 years. It included years before and after the 2011 enactment of federal regulations limiting how close vessels can approach killer whales in Washington’s inland waters.

The outsize effect of vessel traffic on female whales “could have cascading effects on the ability to meet energetic requirements to support reproductive efforts,” the scientists reported. “This is particularly concerning in an endangered population that is in decline.”

Vessel Traffic Effects

Two of the three pods of Southern Residents often spend winters along the remote outer coast, with the third pod wintering in remote portions of the Salish Sea. All three have historically spent much of the summer in Puget Sound and the Salish Sea, where vessel traffic commonly accompanies them. Vessel monitoring by The Whale Museum’s Soundwatch Boater Education Program regularly conducts counts of vessels around the whales. They found an average of 10 or more vessels and sometimes as many as 80 vessels, including commercial whale-watch cruises, around the whales at one time.

Current Washington state regulations require vessels to stay at least 300 yards to either side of killer whales and no less than 400 yards in front of and behind them in Washington state waters. U.S. federal regulations require vessels to stay at least 200 yards away from killer whales in Washington’s inland waters. A 2017 review found that compliance could be improved. From the tag recordings, the new study analyzed the movement and sound of the whales underwater. The data revealed their behavioral states, such as searching for prey using sound and deep foraging.

When nearby vessels approached within 400 yards, on average, both male and female whales foraged less, the study found. The whales made fewer dives and spent less time in a deep foraging state that involves the capture of Chinook salmon and other salmon prey.  This effect was more substantial in females.

“These findings suggest that deep foraging opportunities can be enhanced when vessels give whales, especially females, more space,” the researchers wrote.

Female killer whales can weigh a few tons less than males, so they lack the same capacity for extended dives. Females are also more likely to be associated with smaller, younger whales, including their offspring that tend to stay in shallower waters. That leaves them less space to maneuver in response to vessel traffic.

The new results may help scientists understand previous findings showing that male killer whales spent more time foraging and captured more prey than females, said Jennifer Tennessen, a Research Scientist with Lynker in support of the Northwest Fisheries Science Center and an author on both studies.

“Double Whammy” for Females

The limited dive capacity of female whales and the more pronounced effects of vessels combine into a kind of “double whammy” for the females, Holt said. Vessel traffic may also disrupt prey sharing that can help sustain lactating females with calves that have greater energetic requirements.

It’s not clear just why the whales forage less as vessels approach. Boat noise may mask the echolocation clicks they use to find prey, or they may perceive vessels as a threat, Holt said. The effects may be most serious for pregnant or nursing mothers that must support calves.

That is “particularly concerning” for the endangered Southern Residents, now numbering 74 whales, the scientists said. Females produce calves only every 3 to 7 years, and reproduction is essential for the dwindling population to have any hope of recovery. Analyses of Southern Resident reproduction for their most recent status review indicate that at current rates, the population will continue to decline in coming decades.

Given such a small population, even slight changes in the number of births can greatly impact the population’s future, the scientists noted.

NOAA Fisheries has designated Southern Resident killer whales as one of nine national “Species in the Spotlight,” with potential for focused protection to stabilize their decline. We plan to release an updated Action Plan for the species in early 2021.

[king-lobo]

As of September 24, 2017, there are just 76 Southern Resident Killer Whales remaining. This endangered population of Orca feed primarily on chinook salmon - in fact, it makes up approximately 78% of their diet. Unfortunately for them, the chinook runs that they rely on most are also endangered, and these whales are starving to death as a result. So what can we do? Write to government officials. You don’t even have to be a citizen in the United States to contact them, and you can copy+paste and e-mail, or print and mail, the letter below. WHO TO WRITE TO: United States Army Corps of Engineers (select ‘Public Affairs’) This form does NOT require you to list your physical address. The USACE own the four lower Snake River dams and are the ones who operate and maintain them.

Washington State Governor Jay Inslee Office of Governor Jay Inslee PO Box 40002 Olympia, WA 98504-0002 360-902-4111 (Online form allows for non-U.S. addresses)

Office of U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell 511 Hart Senate Office Building Washington, D.C. 20510 206-220-6400 (Online form for U.S. residents only)

Office of U.S. Senator Patty Murray 154 Russell Senate Office Building Washington, D.C. 20510 206-553-5545 (Online form for U.S. residents only - character limit of 5,000)

President Donald Trump 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW Washington, DC 20500 202-456-1111 (Online form allows for non-U.S. addresses - character limit of 2,500)

WHAT TO SAY: Feel free to create your own letter, or use this one that I have provided below. Remember to sign your own name at the bottom! (Link to google doc)

To whom it may concern,

I am writing this letter to you to request your cooperation regarding the recovery of the Southern Resident Killer Whales. As of September 2017, this population has dropped to a dangerous low of just 77 individuals and they show very few signs of recovery at this point in time.

On September 13, 2017, aerial images captured under NMFS permit #19091 showed a 2-year old juvenile male - J52 “Sonic” - displaying what is known as “peanut head”, a condition resulting from severely diminished fat deposits behind the head, indicative of advanced starvation. Prior to J52 returning to the Salish Sea in such poor condition, several other individuals have disappeared or been found dead in similar condition. In 2016, seven whales were declared to be deceased - including the iconic J2 “Granny”, as well as adult female J28 “Polaris”, and her 10-month old calf, J54 “Dipper”.

Their main prey, chinook salmon, have also been struggling to maintain their numbers for well over 20 years. The Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission states, historically, the Columbia River basin once produced between 10 to 16 million salmon annually, with more than 13,000 miles of habitat at their disposal. Both their habitat, as well as the number of salmon, have decreased significantly within the past 120 years between 1890 and 2011.

As of 2010, just over 485,000 chinook salmon were reported to be in the Salish Sea by the Pacific Salmon Commission. This is a 60% reduction in the abundance of chinook salmon since the Pacific Salmon Commission began tracking salmon data in 1984. While there has been a 30% increase in the number of spawning salmon since 1999, for species such as the Southern Residents - whose diet consists of at least 78% chinook salmon - the low return of fish to the Salish Sea is not good news for them or their long-term survival.

Research and scale samples indicate that the Southern Residents are especially reliant on early spring runs, as well as winter runs of chinook that stem from the Upper Columbia & Snake River. NOAA Fisheries has stated that the decrease in salmon stocks in the Columbia-Snake River basin has been one of the single greatest changes in food availability for the whales since the late 1800s.

Not only can prey depletion lead to poor body condition or even death caused by starvation; it can also be attributed to the low number of births, as well as the high mortality rates among neonate calves. A report put together by the SeaDoc Society explored this subject, concluding that poor body condition in Southern Residents is associated with the loss of fetuses, calves, and adults. They note that the causes of this are complex, but food availability is one of the major contributing stressors in the decline of this population.

Part of this report included results from aerial photogrammetry studies, which provides valuable data regarding the body condition of individual animals. Measuring the width of the head as an indicator of head fatness (Eye Patch Ratio, EPR) sets a starting point for researchers to more closely monitor the health of an individual, based on whether they experience increases or decreases in EPR over time. From September 2015 to May 2016, five of six animals had declines in EPR. From May to September 2016, three animals experienced increases in EPR over the summer, while three experienced decreases. All three animals that experienced continued declines in the summer of 2016 died. A multi-year study from 2007 to 2014 - conducted by researchers from the Center for Conservation Biology at the University of Washington, along with partners from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Northwest Fisheries Science Center, and the Center for Whale Research - also concluded that prey depletion is the most immediate threat to the survival and subsequent growth of the Southern Residents.

Fecal samples collected from the whales allowed researchers to study the levels of different hormones that play key roles in physiological stress responses, including glucocorticoid and thyroid hormones. The levels of both hormones allowed researchers to differentiate between stress due to poor nutrition and stress due to external responses, such as boat traffic. Levels of progesterone and testosterone were also used to determine the reproductive state of females. They were even able to determine whether a pregnant female was in the early or later stages of pregnancy. Using this data and the date of collection, along with calf sightings, they were able to determine whether each pregnancy was successful.

The hormone data was able to detect 35 unique pregnancies among Southern Resident females between 2007 and 2014. In total, only 11 females gave birth and were later seen with a calf. In the remaining 24 cases (69% of total pregnancies), no live calf was subsequently seen, indicating that the pregnancies had failed. While most cases likely ended in spontaneous abortion during the first half of gestation, hormone levels indicated that in one-third of pregnancies the calf was lost in the latter half of pregnancy, or moments after birth. These are times at which the mother has already invested significant resources and is at a higher risk of infection or complications when the pregnancy fails. It was also noted that these females showed signs of nutritional stress, with ratios of thyroid hormone relative to glucocorticoid hormone nearly seven times lower than females who successfully gave birth.

When the team compared their hormone data to records of salmon runs in the Columbia and Fraser Rivers, they saw that large runs at these watersheds coincided with lower nutritional stress, while poor runs at either site showed signs of elevated nutritional stress.

While it would not immediately bring salmon numbers back up, removing the Ice Harbor Dam, Lower Monumental Dam, Little Goose Dam, and Lower Granite dam would provide a critical boost to salmon species - such as providing access to over 140 miles of high-quality habitat and spawning grounds. Evidence of how quickly a river can recover and begin to thrive from the removal of man-made obstacles, such as dams, is not hard to find.

On September 17, 2011, the removal of the Elwha Dam began and in six months, it was gone. In 2014, the Glines Canyon Dam was removed, making the Elwha a free flowing river once again. After being absent for nearly a century, salmon species have already returned to the river. Chinook, coho, and chum salmon have seen a spike in their numbers, as have bull trout and steelhead. This can likely be attributed to the removal of the dams opening up access to over 70 miles of mainstream and tributary habitat, as well as the speed at which the water moves. Dams create slow-moving lakelike habitats in the impounded section of the river that significantly alters the species composition of the river. Species that are well-adapted to lakes may begin to flourish and thrive in the river, which often results in the displacement of riverine species. The Snake River is an example of this, as the slow pace of the river has encouraged salmonoid predators to increase in density. Slower moving waters also become warmer, which results in increased mortality of species that prefer colder temperatures.

Not only do dams cause harm to the river and its inhabitants, the Snake River Dams [specifically] are outdated and provide little benefit to the northwest in terms of energy production. The Northwest Power and Conservation Council has stated that the northwest has an electrical generation surplus, and can meet expected increases in demand possibly through 2030. A study commissioned by Idaho Rivers United concludes that the Pacific Northwest only runs at approximately 84% capacity with 4,600 annual megawatts of surplus energy. The Snake River Dams only bring in approximately 1,000 aMW’s.

In addition, the use of the lower Snake River to transport goods by barge has decreased by approximately 70% since 2000; and container shipments from the Port of Lewiston had dropped by 82% by early April 2015 - and 100% by late April 2015. Instead, freight shipments are increasingly being transported by rail due to bridge improvements, better fuel efficiency, as well as construction projects such as a unit train loader at the Port of Lewiston.

The cost to maintain these dams continues to rise as the dams age, with estimates reaching as high as $312.9 million per year as of 2015 (estimates from DamSense). In addition, more than $15 billion has been spent on salmon recovery projects - though none of the endangered salmon species have recovered; in fact, their numbers continue to decline. Contrasting the astronomical costs of maintaining the dams and failed salmon recovery projects, the San Juan Islands Visitors Bureau states that in 2014, tourism in San Juan County brought in over $189 million. The whale watch industry in Washington also brings in between $60 to $75 million per year; an industry that relies heavily upon the Southern Resident Orcas.

As previously stated, the breaching of the dams will not immediately restore salmon runs to historical numbers, though it will provide a critical boost needed to begin their recovery. The Southern Residents face other threats to their survival, but prey depletion has been the most immediate threat to them for many years. If the recovery of critical prey species is not taken more seriously, we could lose the Southern Residents, and many other species, forever.

Sincerely, [name of sender]

P.S. During the time it took to gather information, formulate this letter, and send it, the Center for Whale Research officially declared J52 “Sonic” to be deceased as of September 24, 2017 after he had not been seen with his familial pod since September 19th; approximately six days after his return to the Salish Sea in emaciated condition. The Southern Residents now number just 76 individuals, and the fact remains that their numbers will continue to drop unless immediate action is taken to improve their quality of life and ensure their survival. This beloved and iconic population is out of time and can not wait on us any longer.

[rjzimmerman]

Maybe some good news, for a change!

Excerpt from this EcoWatch story:

Is there hope for the critically endangered orcas that travel the waters between Seattle and BC, Canada? The southern resident killer whales have added a new member to their shrinking numbers: a baby that Center for Whale Research (CWR) Founding Director Ken Balcomb has named Lucky.

Balcomb confirmed the calf's birth with to The Seattle Times Friday, saying that the baby was healthy.

"It's great news," Balcomb said.

The birth comes at a critical time for the southern resident killer whales. Between June and September of 2018, the population lost three whales, bringing its numbers down to 74. Lucky's birth has bumped that number up to 75, but the new calf's survival is not certain. The last baby to be born to the southern resident orcas lived only half an hour. Its mother, Tahlequah, carried the body for a heartbreaking 17 days this summer, bringing international attention to the whales' plight. The population has not given birth to a surviving calf for three years."

Approximately 40 percent 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," CWR wrote in a press release announcing the birth.

The new baby was first spotted in a video shot Thursday by Seattle's King 5 News near Washington's Vachon Island, CBC News reported. It was seen beside the whale L77, who had been pregnant.

[awesomenews47]

Orca that captured hearts when she kept dead calf afloat for 17 days is pregnant again | Latest News

Orca that captured hearts when she kept dead calf afloat for 17 days is pregnant again | Latest News

A southern resident killer whale who gained global notoriety two years ago when she was perceived by many people to publicly mourn the loss of her newborn calf is in the spotlight again and this time, in a good way.

J35, the matriarch of J pod, one of three groups of killer whales living in waters off the coast of British Columbia and Washington state, is believed by whale researchers to be…

[latestbreakingnewsupdates]

Tahlequah: Killer whale who carried dead calf for days is pregnant

Tahlequah: Killer whale who carried dead calf for days is pregnant

Latest Breaking News KEN BALCOMB, CENTER FOR WHALE RESEARCH

Image caption Tahlequah is one in all three pregnant Southern Resident killer whales, scientists say

A killer whale who carried her dead new-born calf for 17 days whereas she swam 1,000 miles (1,600km), is pregnant based on scientists.

Scie…

[kayjay63]

Famous killer whale pregnant again, scientists say Image copyrightKEN BALCOMB, CENTER FOR WHALE RESEARCHImage caption Tahlequah is one of three pregnant Southern Resident killer whales, scientists say A killer whale who carried her dead new-born c… Read More