Whale calf sightings on both coasts bring hope to those concerned about the survival of two endangered species-- the North Atlantic right whale
(E. glacialis) and the resident orcas
(Orcinus orca) living in the Pacific Northwest.
The second right whale calf spotted this birthing season was seen off Jacksonville, FL. The mother #3317 was tentatively identified as one giving birth just 3 years ago, which is good news since that last recorded calving interval for the other mother, #2791, was nine years. Right whales migrate between their winter calving grounds and the feeding waters around Cape Cod, which is one reason proposed oil and gas exploration on the eastern OCS would be a disaster for this species, struggling to recover their numbers. #3317 is estimated to be 16 years old, and was seen in Cape Code Bay several times in 2016. Biologists think the female right whales have not
been able to gain enough weight to support a pregnancy. The other
concern is that stress from ship noise and entanglements with fishing
gear, which the whales can carry around them for years, are stressing
the mammals. NOAA estimates that 19 whales died during 2017-2018, five by colliding with ships, and five by drowning after entanglement in fishing gear. One fact is clear, the whales are not reproducing fast enough to replace their losses.
[photo courtesy, NOAA]
Southern resident killer whales are also struggling to survive. Their number has been shrinking for decades due to the collapse of chinook salmon populations and disappearing habitat. But the good news is that the group has produced a new member L124 that appears to be healthy. The baby, estimated at three weeks of age, was located swimming with its relatives in Admiralty Inlet at the north end of Puget Sound. Orcas living in undegraded environments are doing well, but the southern residents are suffering from industrialization.
PCBs have been found in killer whale blubber; unfortunately the toxins are passed on to newborns. No calves born since 2015 have survived to maturity. Miscarriages have also occurred.
[photo courtesy, Center for Whale Research]
The southern resident group is divided into three pods, J, K, and L. L contains 35 members. Orca society is matrilineal with grandmothers living with their daughters' young. Older orca females also experience menopause, so breeding females are important to maintaining pod continuity. Orcas will play when they have time to spare from hunting which is taking an increasing amount of their time now. L pod seemed happy to observers when the baby was found engaging in spy hops, fin slapping and cartwheels. Later in the day, all three pods gathered in the same place. J35, the mother who made news carrying her dead baby on her head for days seemed to be recovering from her grief, but more bad news awaits: her mother, J17 is hungry and visibly weakening. It must be distressing for such a tightly knit group of sentient being to experience so much unrelenting mortality.
