Cuba Libre
Well-Known Member
Just got a report of a dead orca off Bates Beach.... When I hear more I will give a report.
Sad news...
- Thread starter Cuba Libre
- Start date
SpringFever2359
Well-Known Member
Yes. That is ****** news...will be waiting to find out what killed it
Cuba Libre
Well-Known Member
CHEK news and CTV did some filming for tonights news The guys from Bates Beach resort have been assisting DFO examining the whale
Cuba Libre
Well-Known Member
Bates Beach is adjacent to Kitty Coleman park, on the east side of VI between Oyster River and Comox
sammyslabber
Active Member
more about the story from CHEK...
http://www.cheknews.ca/a-dead-orca-washes-up-in-the-waters-off-courtenay/
http://www.cheknews.ca/a-dead-orca-washes-up-in-the-waters-off-courtenay/
Andrew P
Well-Known Member
Very sad news.
Here is a copy and paste from the Orca Network's facebook page.
"Very sad news. The deceased orca in Georgia Strait found earlier today is 18-year old J32, Rhapsody, according to photos sent by Canada's Dept. of Fisheries and Oceans and identified by Ken Balcomb at the Center for Whale Research. J32 was thought by many to be in the late stages of pregnancy last summer. A necropsy Saturday will reveal if she was indeed pregnant and hopefully the cause of death. A recent generous grant by the Milgard Foundation will allow Ken Balcomb to attend and assist in the necropsy."
https://www.facebook.com/OrcaNetwork
J32's mother was J20, who died in 1998 when Rhapsody was only 2 years old. She was raised by her aunt, J22 Oreo. She is survived by J22 and her cousins J34 Doublestuf and J38 Cookie, leaving only three survivors of the former J10 matriline, and only 77 members of the Southern Resident Community.
We cannot express how tragic this loss is for this struggling, precariously small, family of resident orcas of the Salish Sea."
Here is a copy and paste from the Orca Network's facebook page.
"Very sad news. The deceased orca in Georgia Strait found earlier today is 18-year old J32, Rhapsody, according to photos sent by Canada's Dept. of Fisheries and Oceans and identified by Ken Balcomb at the Center for Whale Research. J32 was thought by many to be in the late stages of pregnancy last summer. A necropsy Saturday will reveal if she was indeed pregnant and hopefully the cause of death. A recent generous grant by the Milgard Foundation will allow Ken Balcomb to attend and assist in the necropsy."
https://www.facebook.com/OrcaNetwork
J32's mother was J20, who died in 1998 when Rhapsody was only 2 years old. She was raised by her aunt, J22 Oreo. She is survived by J22 and her cousins J34 Doublestuf and J38 Cookie, leaving only three survivors of the former J10 matriline, and only 77 members of the Southern Resident Community.
We cannot express how tragic this loss is for this struggling, precariously small, family of resident orcas of the Salish Sea."
Wow down to 77 southern residents? Not long ago they were hovering around 90. They are going in the wrong direction! Before the days of whale captures their population was between 150-200 I believe. Obviously those captures did more harm in a short period of time than anything else. Took them down to such a low number of individuals that rebounding is almost impossible with the infant mortality rates they average.
gungadin
Well-Known Member
It is very unfortunate, but the southern residents are quickly heading down the pathway to extinction. The area they inhabit is no longer clean enough, they swim in a polluted ocean of our doing, from industrial waste, polution from the chemicals we put on our soil to improve production, human sewage and the like. They are also contributing to their own demise with interbreeding.
In the not so distant past, resident orcas would live into their 80's, now because of the toxins accumulated in their bodies, males live 30- 40 years, while females can stll live longer. A female orca giving birth to her firstborn will get rid of some of her accumulated toxins through lactation. Her firstborn recieves a huge dose of toxins (12 years worth), subsequent calfs receive only about two years worth. By partially clearing her system of these toxins, she is able to live longer. Pity the firstborn, especially the male, with no way of eliminating any of these toxins, and accumulating more with each year, it is no wonder they die so young. Many of our ocean inhabitants are so full of these toxins that they are no longer fit for human consumption. We are the ones killing them off. Will we ever stop poluting our oceans?
I don't know
In the not so distant past, resident orcas would live into their 80's, now because of the toxins accumulated in their bodies, males live 30- 40 years, while females can stll live longer. A female orca giving birth to her firstborn will get rid of some of her accumulated toxins through lactation. Her firstborn recieves a huge dose of toxins (12 years worth), subsequent calfs receive only about two years worth. By partially clearing her system of these toxins, she is able to live longer. Pity the firstborn, especially the male, with no way of eliminating any of these toxins, and accumulating more with each year, it is no wonder they die so young. Many of our ocean inhabitants are so full of these toxins that they are no longer fit for human consumption. We are the ones killing them off. Will we ever stop poluting our oceans?
I don't know
beemer
Well-Known Member
too true Profisher... The Southern resident population is unfortunately in a death spiral. Nothing can be done to save them now . We had a chance 15 years ago but the math is strongly against them. Too little too late.
beemer
beemer
Well-Known Member
I think GDW that everyone has different ways of paying respect. The Southern Residents represent a bellweather for our human species. Lets not forget that they survive by eating 99% on the Chinook salmon from our region. The same salmon that we feed our children and friends. The same toxins that are killing them are also killing us. DFO only does token pollution and toxicology reporting on our salmon. Connect the dots.
beemer
ChoveyRoller
Member
Fish Assassin
Crew Member
Not surprised you'd ad something like this......
Thanks for the photos Fish Camp......
Went down there today with Jessica to have a look. They had her all parted out. No photos taken as there was nothing worth photographing or sharing. Her head in the back of one truck, spine in another. The everything else laid out in sections on tarps. Jessica really enjoyed watching the process. Every thing/step being recorded. It was amazing to watch but the smell was awful. Well others were gagging from the stink, others stood around eating Subway.....LOL
One of the team said she was pregnant
SpringVelocity
Crew Member
thnx for pics.. You need to relax GDW it is just photos. I hope this death is not related to food supply....
SpringVelocity
Crew Member
Here it comes....
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/briti...eeks-answers-to-troubling-questions-1.2863303
"We have long been concerned about very high levels of endocrine-disrupting pollutants in these whales, reduced food supply — notably chinook salmon — and noise and disturbance,” Ross said.
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/briti...eeks-answers-to-troubling-questions-1.2863303
"We have long been concerned about very high levels of endocrine-disrupting pollutants in these whales, reduced food supply — notably chinook salmon — and noise and disturbance,” Ross said.
