Starving, sick orca not spotted since last week as NOAA readies unprecedented action
A starving and sick 4-year-old southern resident orca hasn't been spotted since last week, just as an unprecedented federal government plan to feed her live salmon awaits final approval.
A starving and sick 4-year-old southern resident orca hasn't been spotted since last week, just as an unprecedented federal government plan to feed her live salmon awaits final approval.
King County boat joins emergency effort to save emaciated orca J50
King County’s research vessel, SoundGuardian, has joined an emergency mission to help save the endangered southern resident orca population by bringing them food.
King County’s research vessel, SoundGuardian, has joined an emergency mission to help save the endangered southern resident orca population by bringing them food.
Feds weigh emergency plan to feed emaciated orca J50 at sea if needed to try to save its life
The federal government is assessing the health of the emaciated southern resident orca J50 and evaluating whether it should try an emergency plan to feed the killer whale live Chinook salmon dosed with medicine at sea, a NOAA official said Thursday night.
The federal government is assessing the health of the emaciated southern resident orca J50 and evaluating whether it should try an emergency plan to feed the killer whale live Chinook salmon dosed with medicine at sea, a NOAA official said Thursday night.
Researchers hope case of grieving orca mother will push people to help save species
SEATTLE -- Whale researchers hope more people will focus on trying save the endangered southern resident killer whales after all the attention generated by the heartbreaking case of a grieving mother orca carrying her dead calf for more than a week.Thursday marked the 10th day the orca whale J35, known as Tahlequah, has been seen by researchers carrying the body of her dead calf.“It’s heartbreaking, it’s really hard for us to watch,” said Lynne Barre, the recovery coordinator for endangered southern resident killer whales for NOAA Fisheries.She’s worked with these animals for 15 years and says what is happening with Tahlequah is something she has never seen.“Moms carry those animals around for a little bit, but this is the longest I’m aware of for southern residents,” said Barre.Hundreds of people have commented on Q13 News’ Facebook page about how heartbreaking it is to watch this mother whale swimming through the water as she holds up her dead calf.“In this case we’re seeing it every day, and we’re seeing real quantifiable grief and it’s traumatic,” said Michael Harris, the former executive director of the Pacific Whale Watch Association.He says he’s spent years getting to know these whale pods and he says they are disappearing from our waters.“We are orca country.
SEATTLE -- Whale researchers hope more people will focus on trying save the endangered southern resident killer whales after all the attention generated by the heartbreaking case of a grieving mother orca carrying her dead calf for more than a week.Thursday marked the 10th day the orca whale J35, known as Tahlequah, has been seen by researchers carrying the body of her dead calf.“It’s heartbreaking, it’s really hard for us to watch,” said Lynne Barre, the recovery coordinator for endangered southern resident killer whales for NOAA Fisheries.She’s worked with these animals for 15 years and says what is happening with Tahlequah is something she has never seen.“Moms carry those animals around for a little bit, but this is the longest I’m aware of for southern residents,” said Barre.Hundreds of people have commented on Q13 News’ Facebook page about how heartbreaking it is to watch this mother whale swimming through the water as she holds up her dead calf.“In this case we’re seeing it every day, and we’re seeing real quantifiable grief and it’s traumatic,” said Michael Harris, the former executive director of the Pacific Whale Watch Association.He says he’s spent years getting to know these whale pods and he says they are disappearing from our waters.“We are orca country.
Orca mother on 'tour of grief' carries dead calf for 10th straight day
FRIDAY HARBOR, Wash. -- A southern resident orca mother carried her dead calf in the waters off Washington's coast for a 10th straight day Thursday, in what researchers are calling a "tour of grief."Affiliates of the Center for Whale Research spotted J35 - known as Tahlequah - carrying her dead calf in the Strait of Juan de Fuca, according to Taylor Shedd of Soundwatch.
FRIDAY HARBOR, Wash. -- A southern resident orca mother carried her dead calf in the waters off Washington's coast for a 10th straight day Thursday, in what researchers are calling a "tour of grief."Affiliates of the Center for Whale Research spotted J35 - known as Tahlequah - carrying her dead calf in the Strait of Juan de Fuca, according to Taylor Shedd of Soundwatch.
Bill allowing more sea lions to be killed clears key hurdle
A bill that would make it easier to kill sea lions that gobble endangered salmon in the Columbia River has cleared a key committee in the U.S. Senate.
A bill that would make it easier to kill sea lions that gobble endangered salmon in the Columbia River has cleared a key committee in the U.S. Senate.
Orca carries dead calf - now decomposing - for 'unprecedented' ninth straight day
FRIDAY HARBOR, Wash. -- Researchers are calling it a "tour of grief." They're also calling it unprecedented.The female southern resident orca known as J35 was spotted Wednesday carrying her dead calf in an apparent sign of grieving, marking the ninth straight day she has done so.Researchers said rough seas Tuesday and Wednesday made it hard to confirm whether or not she was carrying her dead offspring.
FRIDAY HARBOR, Wash. -- Researchers are calling it a "tour of grief." They're also calling it unprecedented.The female southern resident orca known as J35 was spotted Wednesday carrying her dead calf in an apparent sign of grieving, marking the ninth straight day she has done so.Researchers said rough seas Tuesday and Wednesday made it hard to confirm whether or not she was carrying her dead offspring.
Grieving mother orca carries dead calf for seventh straight day
A female southern resident orca carried its dead calf on its head for the seventh straight day, in an apparent sign of grieving.
A female southern resident orca carried its dead calf on its head for the seventh straight day, in an apparent sign of grieving.
'Pathogens' found in starving orca's fecal samples; no update on dead calf
Microorganisms that can cause disease have been found in the fecal samples of a starving 4-year-old southern resident orca, raising the possibility that the struggling mammal may be diseased as well as malnourished.
Microorganisms that can cause disease have been found in the fecal samples of a starving 4-year-old southern resident orca, raising the possibility that the struggling mammal may be diseased as well as malnourished.
SEATTLE – Gov.
Orca task force promises bold actions to save dying species, but will it deliver?
SAN JUAN ISLAND, Wash. -- Some say a task force is all talk, but if action is not taken soon, this will be the last generation of southern resident killer whales.Nearly four dozen stakeholders make up Gov.
SAN JUAN ISLAND, Wash. -- Some say a task force is all talk, but if action is not taken soon, this will be the last generation of southern resident killer whales.Nearly four dozen stakeholders make up Gov.
Southern resident orca mom desperately pushes dead calf; another 'severely emaciated'
Heartbreaking photos of a southern resident orca trying to urge its dead newborn calf to swim have shined an ever-brightening light on the plight of the species.
Heartbreaking photos of a southern resident orca trying to urge its dead newborn calf to swim have shined an ever-brightening light on the plight of the species.
The last generation of southern resident killer whales?
SAN JUAN ISLAND, Wash. -- "If we want to keep them around, we’ve gotta do something fast," said Ken Balcomb, a leading researcher on the southern resident killer whales.It’s a warning we’ve heard before."We are in critical danger of losing these orcas all together," Balcomb had told Q13 News five years ago when it put a spotlight on this 'Species on the Brink' of extinction."Could it happen?
SAN JUAN ISLAND, Wash. -- "If we want to keep them around, we’ve gotta do something fast," said Ken Balcomb, a leading researcher on the southern resident killer whales.It’s a warning we’ve heard before."We are in critical danger of losing these orcas all together," Balcomb had told Q13 News five years ago when it put a spotlight on this 'Species on the Brink' of extinction."Could it happen?
Trump administration seeks endangered species rule changes
DENVER (AP) — The Trump administration wants to change how endangered species are protected by the U.S. government.Administration officials on Thursday proposed new rules they said would advance conservation by simplifying and improving how the landmark Endangered Species Act is used.The changes include potential limits on habitat protections, an end to automatic protections for threatened plants and animals, and streamlining inter-agency consultations when federal government actions could jeopardize a species.Wildlife advocates say the changes will speed extinctions in the name of furthering the administration's anti-environment agenda.The proposals come amid longstanding criticism of the Endangered Species Act by business groups and Republicans in Congress.Republicans lawmakers are pushing legislation to enact broad changes to the Endangered Species Act, saying it hinders economic activities while doing little to restore species.
DENVER (AP) — The Trump administration wants to change how endangered species are protected by the U.S. government.Administration officials on Thursday proposed new rules they said would advance conservation by simplifying and improving how the landmark Endangered Species Act is used.The changes include potential limits on habitat protections, an end to automatic protections for threatened plants and animals, and streamlining inter-agency consultations when federal government actions could jeopardize a species.Wildlife advocates say the changes will speed extinctions in the name of furthering the administration's anti-environment agenda.The proposals come amid longstanding criticism of the Endangered Species Act by business groups and Republicans in Congress.Republicans lawmakers are pushing legislation to enact broad changes to the Endangered Species Act, saying it hinders economic activities while doing little to restore species.
Newborn orca found dead in Ocean Shores
A newborn orca was found dead late Saturday in Ocean Shores.
A newborn orca was found dead late Saturday in Ocean Shores.
US House approves bill that would allow the killing of sea lions
The U.S. House of Representatives approved a bill Tuesday that would allow the lethal removal of sea lions in order to save endangered salmon and steelhead populations -- the primary food source for the endangered Southern Resident orcas.
The U.S. House of Representatives approved a bill Tuesday that would allow the lethal removal of sea lions in order to save endangered salmon and steelhead populations -- the primary food source for the endangered Southern Resident orcas.
Researchers say Puget Sound orca missing and presumed dead
Researchers say an adult male orca is missing and presumed dead as resident killer whales struggle with a dearth of salmon in the Salish Sea.
Researchers say an adult male orca is missing and presumed dead as resident killer whales struggle with a dearth of salmon in the Salish Sea.
Puget Sound anglers impacted, buyers forced to outsource by decreasing salmon population
The Puget Sound is home to more than 200 fish species. However, none are likely more iconic than the salmon is to the Seattle area.
The Puget Sound is home to more than 200 fish species. However, none are likely more iconic than the salmon is to the Seattle area.
New baby killer whale in our waters: a closer look at why that's not good news for our local orcas
Whale watchers have spotted a new baby killer whale in the Salish Sea. It's some amazing new video of the estimated month-old marine mammal off the southeast coast of Vancouver Island.
Whale watchers have spotted a new baby killer whale in the Salish Sea. It's some amazing new video of the estimated month-old marine mammal off the southeast coast of Vancouver Island.
Incredible video shows orca calf in Salish Sea, but is it good news for our J-Pod?
A baby Bigg's killer whale was spotted by whale watchers this month in the Salish Sea. The young calf was photographed by Ocean EcoVentures between April 4-15.
A baby Bigg's killer whale was spotted by whale watchers this month in the Salish Sea. The young calf was photographed by Ocean EcoVentures between April 4-15.