Aerial images of adult male Southern Resident killer whale K25, taken in September 2016 (left) and September 2018 (right); the recent image shows him in poorer condition with a noticeably thinner body profile. Image in 2016 by NOAA/SWFSC and Vancouver Aquarium’s Coastal Ocean Research Institute and in 2018 by NOAA/SWFSC and SR3, both obtained using an unmanned drone piloted non-invasively >100ft above the whales under NMFS research permit #19091.
Another southern resident killer whale is ailing, according to the U.S. National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration.
Scientists from the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Southwest Fisheries Science Center said recent aerial photographs from them, and SR3: SeaLife Response, Rehabilitation and Research, show K25, a 27-year-old male, is thinner this year than he has been in previous years. K25 has been documented in aerial photographs since 2008.
“The aerial photos are an early indicator of changes in body condition and help us to identify at-risk whales,” said Lynne Barre, NOAA Fisheries Recovery Coordinator for southern resident killer whales, in a statement. “While the decline in K25’s body condition is not as severe as we saw with J50 this summer, it is a warning signal.”
The NOAA said the change coincides with the loss of K25’s mother, K13, in 2017, and likely reflects the challenges he faces without her help in capturing and sharing prey. The males in the southern resident population, rely on help from their mothers and other family members to meet increased energy demands.
Long-term demographic monitoring has shown adult males have an increased mortality risk following their mother’s death. Based on current observations, NOAA Fisheries is not considering intervention for K25 at this time. Researchers will continue to collect fecal samples and observe K25’s condition.
The news comes almost two weeks after J50, the sick three-year-old southern resident killer whale, was declared dead after she was not spotted with her pod for several days. Her death brought the endangered southern resident killer whale population to 74.
There may be some good news coming for the population, however, Aerial images from this week show K27, K25’s sister, is heavily pregnant along as long as at least one whale in the other pods. (J and L). Whales carry their baby weight below their ribcage, which allows later-term pregnancies to be documented. The gestation period typically lasts between 15 and 18 months.
Unfortunately, there is a high rate of reproductive failure in the population and K27 has miscarried in the past.
Aerial images of pregnant adult female Southern Resident killer whales, documented by their increased width at mid-body. Left shows J17 approximately one month prior to giving birth in 2015; image by NOAA/SWFSC and Vancouver Aquarium’s Coastal Ocean Research Institute; right shows K27 (top whale) in September 2018, with her increased body width contrasting to that of her juvenile son (K44, bottom); image by NOAA/SWFSC and SR3. Both images obtained using an unmanned drone piloted non-invasively >100ft above the whales under NMFS research permits 16163 and 19091.
“The aerial photos also indicate that at least one whale in each pod is pregnant. This is vital news for this critically endangered population,” says Scott Rumsey, NOAA Fisheries West Coast region deputy regional administrator, in a statement “We ask that vessels minimize disturbance of these pregnant whales, in addition to K25, to maximize the chances of successful pregnancies.”
The Pacific Whale Watch Association plans to reduce vessel traffic around the southern resident killer whales and NOAA is asking other boaters to do the same. in the U.S., regulations limit the viewing distance for killer whales to no less than 200 yards (183 metres), and 400 yards (366 metres) in the path of the whales. In Canada, new regulations state in B.C. and the Pacific Ocean, a minimum distance of 200 metres for all killer whale populations is now mandatory.
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