Save Our Whales 🐳

Wild killer whale news and updates! Individual orca profiles are uploaded on Instagram! Profile photo of L41 Mega by Gary Sutton. Header of L41 by Dave Ellifrit

[Save Our Whales 🐳 @OrcaSpotlight]

K45 received her official name yesterday. Meet K45 Prosper! She is also now available for adoption on The Whale Museum's website. Link: https://t.co/B2gnjVQLka

[Save Our Whales 🐳 @OrcaSpotlight]

The meanings of the names can be found in The Whale Museum's October 2022 E-News

[Save Our Whales 🐳 @OrcaSpotlight]

The 4 finalist names for K45 have been released by The Whale Museum. Voting ends on November 11th and her name will be revealed on November 15th. For more information on how to vote: https://t.co/tyrs3e8y0W

[Save Our Whales 🐳 @OrcaSpotlight]

Photo taken from Fisheries and Oceans Canada's instagram story. Link to their page: https://t.co/rYf4IU8K0A

[Save Our Whales 🐳 @OrcaSpotlight]

Absolutely overjoyed to share the news that the most recent calf born into the endangered Southern Resident killer whale population, K45, is a little female! Every calf is vital but only females can increase the population so this is an absolute blessing!

[Save Our Whales 🐳 @OrcaSpotlight]

@movemebrightly_ Yes, all other members of K Pod have been sighted and are accounted for!

[Save Our Whales 🐳 @OrcaSpotlight]

The Center for Whale Research has released the unfortunate news of two deaths in the endangered southern resident killer whale population: 28-year-old L89 Solstice and 11-year-old K44 Ripple. L89 was last seen in July of 2021 and K44 was last seen in late April of 2022

[Save Our Whales 🐳 @OrcaSpotlight]

Photo of L89 Solstice: Deanna Brett
Photo of K44 Ripple: Stephen Rink Photography
Link to photo of male killer whale: https://t.co/7GeLs9sUK1

[Save Our Whales 🐳 @OrcaSpotlight]

Additionally, the CWR has mentioned that the body of the male killer whale that was found entangled off the coast of Oregon in June of 2022 matched K44's size and had markings consistent with the southern residents but the body couldn't be positively identified

[Whale Research @CWROrcas]

September 2022 - CWR has completed its annual census of the Southern Resident killer whale population for the National Marine Fisheries Service. As of July 1, 2022, the Southern Resident killer whale population comprised 73 individuals. https://t.co/qnr2e46ea2

[Save Our Whales 🐳 @OrcaSpotlight]

Link to information: https://t.co/mlw7Q9zucI

[Save Our Whales 🐳 @OrcaSpotlight]

A heartfelt thank you to the people who valiantly attempted to save her. She will be so missed 💙

1-2. PTN-021 Sheuen during her fatal stranding by Sergio Casín
3. Sheuen's unique saddlepatch that allowed for her identification by Cenpat
4. Sheuen while alive by Jorge Cazenave

[Save Our Whales 🐳 @OrcaSpotlight]

Devastated that share that 12-year-old PTN-021 Sheuen, one of the Punta Norte stranding orcas in Argentina, became stranded on August 21st and was unable to free herself. She passed away the following morning on the 22nd. She was also pregnant at the time.

[Sophie 🍉🍉 @orcishfish]

New photos of K20 Spock and her baby K45

Her body condition has improved greatly since July. This is a very good sign.

Pics and info: https://t.co/1ISg5bLK79

[Save Our Whales 🐳 @OrcaSpotlight]

Link to information: https://t.co/wGknrzRCV6

Photo of K44 Ripple by Stephen Rink Photography

[Save Our Whales 🐳 @OrcaSpotlight]

Very heartbroken to hear that K44 Ripple has been absent from recent encounters with K Pod. K44 is the second-youngest whale in K Pod and is K27 Deadhead's only surviving calf following multiple failed pregnancies

[Save Our Whales 🐳 @OrcaSpotlight]

@movemebrightly_ They expected the pregnancies of K12, K20, K27 to have maybe ended in late June but they could remain pregnant. There haven't been any updates since June

[Save Our Whales 🐳 @OrcaSpotlight]

In addition to the 12 southern residents from J and L pod that were recently announced to be in poor condition, the newest calf's mother, K20 Spock, and older brother, K38 Comet, were determined to be "skinnier than usual" by the CWR in encounter #39 on July 11th.

[Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife @WDFW]

Today, we've declared 13 endangered Southern Resident killer whales as "vulnerable" -- and we're asking for everyone's help to give these orcas plenty of space during the busy summer boating season. Learn more: https://t.co/71y2wYdQMM

[Save Our Whales 🐳 @OrcaSpotlight]

Link to photos and more information by the CWR: https://t.co/qCkNXll4Ad

[Save Our Whales 🐳 @OrcaSpotlight]

The Center for Whale Research encountered K Pod on July 9th and were able to confirm that a calf, given the alpha-numeric designation of K45, has been born to 36-year-old K20 Spock! The baby was first observed in April off the coast of Oregon.