The Summary
- An orca was seen balancing a salmon on its head in coastal waters in Washington state.
- It s not clear what the behavior means, but orcas were previously observed doing the same thing in the 1980s.
- Southern resident killer whales are critically endangered and likely on a path toward extinction.
Earlier past fall, scientists and curious orca watchers were surprised to see a killer whale near the Washington state coastline balancing a fish on its head.
According to the Orca Network, a nonprofit organization dedicated to the conservation of the species, a picture of a critically endangered southern resident killer whale wearing a salmon helmet was taken in late October close to Point No Point, which is located just off the northern tip of Washington’s Kitsap Peninsula.
Although the whale is also known as Blackberry, marine biologists and whale watchers refer to it as J27. Individual whale sightings are tracked by organizations such as the Orca Network.
According to Deborah Giles, science and research director of Wild Orca, a nonprofit conservation and research organization, orcas were first seen with fish on their heads in the late 1980s.
She claimed that it was something that appeared out of nowhere in the 1980s and that the behavior subsequently seemed to disappear for many years. She stated that the meaning of the behavior is unclear.
For her studies, Giles spends a lot of time on the water and close to orcas. In order to assess the health of the whales, she employs trained dogs aboard boats to detect and gather their feces.
Giles claimed to have witnessed the second recent instance of a southern resident killer whale displaying the salmon-on-head behavior in early November. She is uncertain as to whether the whale she spotted was a J27.
I observed the whale’s head with a fish on top of it. “I didn’t see the saddle patch or dorsal fin,” she claimed, alluding to the body components that are used for whale identification.
Giles went on to say that since 2005, she has seen killer whales from the south do this four or five times.
She surmised that a whale might be playing with the fish, saving salmon to share with another member of its pod, or using it as a social habit. According to her, the pod of killer whales was drawn to the waters of Puget Sound in fall by a robust run of chum salmon. At the moment, the whale with the fish on its head was most likely eating plenty.
That is a sign of a healthy whale. “They’re just going to eat it if they’re starving, which they frequently are,” Giles added. They can choose to skip meals or interact more when there is more food available. They have the chance to engage with objects in their surroundings.
Some headlines have suggested that the whales have revived a long-standing trend as a result of their actions. However, Orca Network president Howard Garrett stated that he is not persuaded that there is proof of a trend.
According to a statement from Garrett, there are plenty of cameras and eyes on the water when the Southern Resident Orcas visit Puget Sound’s interior waters. There would be plenty of evidence if the whale known to local whale enthusiasts as J27 Blackberry was indeed reviving the ancient practice of wearing salmon.
The Marine Mammal Protection Act protects southern resident killer whales, which are severely endangered and usually spend several months in Puget Sound annually. The whales dwell in three pods, J, K, and L, and they eat fish, especially Chinook salmon.
For many years, conservation efforts have focused on the inhabitants of the southern region.
Many resident whales from the South were trapped and taken to marine parks starting in the 1960s. Only 71 remained in the wild by 1974. The population has varied thereafter, peaking at 99 in 1995, but has since been on the decline.
According to Giles, 72 whales are still alive today. According to research released in April, the population may be headed for extinction.
According to the Marine Mammal Commission, the whales are threatened by a variety of factors, such as dwindling prey numbers, toxic pollution, and noise from passing ships. The state of Washington has spent hundreds of millions on initiatives to restore orcas and even more on boosting important salmon species. However, that hasn’t yet improved the species’ situation.
Giles remarked, “It’s just not happening fast enough.” Making sure there is enough prey for these whales across their whole range and all year long is what we should really be concentrating on.
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