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Vanishing orcas
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Blossom and Splash, also identified as J11 and L67, are just two of the breeding female killer whales that have been added to a growing list from the Southern Population of orcas believed dead this year. |
Their disappearances have fanned fears for the future of the Southern Resident Community (generally found in the San Juan Islands/southern Vancouver Island area). Although no bodies have been found, scientists with the Center for Whale Research on San Juan Island have concluded there are now seven adults and calves unaccounted for, pushing the population that once numbered 200 down to 83. These animals are among the most researched and watched whales on the planet, all individually identified by numbers and even names based on fin markings. One of the main concerns are the whales rely heavily on chinook and chum salmon as their primary food source but those fish stocks are down this year possibly due to overfishng, the impacts of fish farming, inland habitat loss and rising ocean temperatures due to climate change.
Environmental groups are putting pressure on the Canadian federal government to take new steps to protect both northern and southern resident orcas in order to comply with Canada's Species At Risk Act. Some actions that could aid the orcas include increasing Marine Protected Areas that would limit certain activities, protect the salmon and even allocate part of the runs for orca consumption. This is a species that cannot afford to lose one, let alone seven individuals.
Orcas registered as 'missing' in 2008
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