This past Saturday, September 6, 2014, a newborn Orca whale was spotted in the waters of San Juan in Washington alongside two adult females. The newborn -- gender unclear as of right now -- is the first one of its kind to be born since 2012. Researchers say that the whale is probably less than a week old. The whale is part of the L-pod that frequently navigates the Puget Sound area in Washington state. This pod also travels with the J and K pods. The birth is especially notable due to the Orca whales' struggling population; the new addition brings the total up to a startling 79. Still, this number still exceeds the total of 71 in the 1970s. The Orca whale was listed as endangered in 2005 following conservation acts in order to save them. These low numbers are due to the also low population of salmon in the area, which makes up the whales' diet. The Killer whale is considered to be the symbol of the Pacific Northwest.
This article was sort of a breath of fresh air for me. With controversies like Blackfish and Sea World still causing mass despair, it's nice to hear about the whales prospering as opposed to suffering. I am lucky to say that I have seen the J-K-L pods in person and it's an experience I'm never going to forget. There's something oddly majestic and beautiful about animals living their lives in the wild, free to go where they desire and free from captivity. I only hope that this species continues to thrive in the upcoming years -- no matter the pace it takes.
I agree with your positive view on this article. It is nice to know that this number has even slightly increased since the 1970's. I didn't realize how symbolic this whale was to the Pacific Northwest, placing more prominence on this finding. The discovery of this whale shows how some species are still able to thrive even after so many years, and it creates optimism on the issue of endangered animals.
ReplyDeleteIt's exciting to see this in contrast with all the terrible news about sea world, finally something positive for the whales.
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