Southern resident orcas celebrate 3 healthy calves as researchers find J pod in best overall condition in a decade – Seattle Times

Posted on May 10, 2021 by Al Bergstein

Good news on the Orca front. 

The three J pod calves are doing well. In fact, the whole southern resident pod is looking better than in a decade, according to researchers out with the orcas. “We hope it continues and these calves can thrive,” researcher John Durban says. Lynda Mapes reports. (Seattle Times)

https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/environment/southern-resident-orcas-celebrate-3-healthy-calves-as-researchers-find-j-pod-in-best-overall-condition-in-a-decade/

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3 Responses

  1. akastes, on May 10, 2021 at 8:21 pm said:

    The three calves are a cause for celebration but to state that their overall condition is great is premature. The chance that they will become functionally extinct within 100 years has increased from 9% in 2015 to 59% in 2020.
    There are factors affecting their success like food scarcity and environmental toxins that have not been adequately addressed and until they are rectified it won’t matter how many are born if they starve to death or die prematurely.
    Removing defunct dams to restore Chinook spawning grounds and better management of waste and industrial toxins in water systems should be two key pieces of the recovery strategy for Southern Resident Orcas.

  2. Christopher Joyce, on May 10, 2021 at 7:35 pm said:

    I’m really surprised at Lynda’s article, and the misleading article headline. The article should’ve been written as, “The SRKW’s are doing fine…today”

    The state of the SRKW’s is extremely fragile. Weather, water temperature changes, availability of their food prey sources (Chinook, Coho, squid) can depend on so many factors. Let’s not forget the SRKW’s are critically endangered and we cannot let our guard down one minute. Pressure on government needs to continue to mount to breach the 4LSR dams. This action is key to their survival, and misleading headlines that exclaim orcas are doing great will cause the public to turn their attention elsewhere, thinking the SRKW’s are out of the woods, safe now. I’m really surprised at Lynda, she’s very well respected and knowledgeable about the plight of the SRKW’s and should know better.

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