Killer Whale (Orca)
Killer Whale (Orcinus orca)
Overview
Three distinct types of killer whales, often called orcas because of their Latin name, Orcinus orca, can be found in the Salish Sea.
L112 Stranding Report Released
On May 15 the Northwest Regional Office of NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service released "Progress Report 2" in the investigation of the stranding of Southern Resident Killer Whale L112 this past February.
Earthfix's Ashley Ahearn interviewed Joe Gaydos for a story on the investigation. The story, titled "Report Inconclusive on What Killed Orca L112" quotes Joe acknowledging that it's challenging for everyone that they can't yet pinpoint a cause of death.
The Progress Report from NOAA describes in detail what has been done so far in the investigation and what's left to do. Worth a read: http://www.nwr.noaa.gov/Marine-Mammals/Whales-Dolphins-Porpoise/Killer-Whales/L112-rpt2.cfm.
The preliminary conclusion is that there's evidence of physical trauma of sufficient force to kill the animal, but it's not clear what that trauma was.
Photos of the necropsy (referred to in the report as the Gross Examination) are here. Viewer discretion advised.
Joe Gaydos was also featured in an NPR story on the whale's death.
Killer Whale Ringtone
Love Killer Whales? Why not have a Killer Whale announce your incoming calls?
We created this ringtone from a recording made by The Whale Museum, thanks to the help of researcher Kari Koski.
Download the ringtone for iPhone.
(Right-Click on the link -- or Control-Click on a mac.)
Technical Note: Firefox handles the download properly. Safari on the Mac downloads a useless file. We're way beyond our geek threshold in terms of why this might be happening.
Click here to listen to the ringtone before downloading. (Works in most browsers.) That's an MP3 you can also download for use as a ringtone on Android.
This ringtone works on iPhones. It MIGHT work on Android and other phones. If you're an Android user and want to test it for us, let us know if it works. And if you're an Android guru and can help us create the right kind of file and write the installation instructions, definitely get in touch.
Here's how to install the ringtone on your iPhone:
- Download the file to your computer.
- Drag it onto your iTunes icon in the dock. iTunes will put it in the "ringtones" area.
- Sync your phone with your computer
- Go to Settings > Sound and choose the ringtone as your default ring, or add it to particular contacts.
- You can also use the ringtone as an alarm chime.
Unfortunately, we're not able to provide technical support for installing the ringtone. If you get stuck, try a Google search, as several websites have illustrated guides to adding ringtones to your phone.
Don't miss our harbor seal ringtone.
Photo courtesy S. Buckley.
Photos and video from Killer Whale necropsy (graphic)
On March 6 & 7 Joe Gaydos worked with collaborators from the Whale Museum and the Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife to conduct a dissection of the head of Southern Resident Killer Whale L-112. L-112, also known as Sooke, was found dead on the shore at Long Beach, WA, on February 11, 2012.
The video is viewable on a Ustream archive page here.
Several photographs taken by SeaDoc supporter Sandy Buckley are below.
Note: the photographs and video are of a dead animal being dissected. They are not for everyone, so please use your judgment before viewing.
Whale Tales: cetacean stranding and medicine in the Pacific Northwest
Birds and Mammals that Depend on the Salish Sea: A Compilation
Salmonella can kill Killer Whales
New research by SeaDoc and other collaborators has shown that the Salmonella bacteria can be fatal to Killer Whales.
Salmonella Newport Omphaloarteritis in a Stranded Killer Whale (Orcinus orca) Neonate
The Mystery of Surplus Predation
In the Salish Sea, some transient killer whales seem to be killing sea lions for no particular reason. Joe Gaydos provided background for a Kitsap Sun piece by Christopher Dunagan discussing the four sea lions apparently killed by blunt trauma from orcas in a single month.
A 2005 publication by Gaydos discussed five harbor seal pups found decapitated by killer whales, but not eaten.
The article discusses possible causes of this "surplus predation" and reinforces the importance of quick reporting of stranded and dead marine mammals, because the faster the animals can be recovered, the more we can learn from them.
Kitsap Sun: http://pugetsoundblogs.com/waterways/2010/05/14/transient-orcas-may-be-l...
Photo: Stranding Network volunteer Maria Webster standing by one of the dead Steller sea lions on North Beach of Orcas just before SeaDoc necropsied it. Credit: Joe Gaydos.
