Southern resident orcas

The research vessel Noctiluca of the Northwest Fisheries Science Center in close proximity to an orca

The southern resident orcas, also known as the southern resident killer whales (SRKW), are the smallest of four communities of the exclusively fish-eating ecotype of orca in the northeast Pacific Ocean. The southern resident orcas form a closed society with no emigration or dispersal of individuals, and no gene flow with other orca populations.[1] The fish-eating ecotype was historically given the name 'resident,' but other ecotypes named 'transient' and 'offshore' are also resident in the same area.

The U.S. National Marine Fisheries Service listed this distinct population segment of orcas as endangered, effective from 2005, under the Endangered Species Act.[2] In Canada the SRKW are listed as endangered on Species at Risk Act Schedule 1.[3] They are commonly referred to as "fish-eating orcas", "southern residents", or the "SRKW population". Unlike some other resident communities, the SRKW is only one clan (J) that consists of 3 pods (J, K, L) with several matrilines within each pod.[4] As of the July 1, 2024 annual census conducted by the Center for Whale Research, there were only 73 individuals, down from 75 in the 2023 census.[5][6] This number, however, does not account for the September 2024 birth of L128, bringing the unofficial number to 74 individuals.[7] Lolita, also known as Tokitae, or as Sk'aliCh'elh-tenaut to the Lummi, was captured during the 1970 Penn Cove capture, and died on August 18, 2023, at the Miami Seaquarium.[8][9]

The world's oldest known orca, Granny or J2, had belonged to and led J pod of the SRKW population. J2 was initially estimated to have been born around 1911, which would mean she would have been 105 years old at the time of her disappearance and death which occurred probably in late 2016.[10] However, this estimate was later revealed to have been based on mistaken information and more recent studies put her at 65–80 years old.[11][12][13]

  1. ^ "Research". Center for Whale Research. Retrieved August 7, 2023.
  2. ^ "The Endangered Species Act - Protecting Marine Resources". www.federalregister.gov. Office of the Federal Register. Retrieved August 3, 2018.
  3. ^ "Recovery Strategy for the Northern and Southern Resident Killer Whales (Orcinus orca) in Canada". April 27, 2011.
  4. ^ National Marine Fisheries Service (2008). "Recovery Plan for Southern Resident Killer Whales (Orcinus orca)". National Marine Fisheries Service, Northwest Region, Seattle, Washington. Retrieved July 26, 2017.
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference 2024-census was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ Mapes, Lynda V. (October 4, 2024). "Orca tally 'frustrating' for those trying to save the J, K and L pods". The Seattle Times. Retrieved October 4, 2024.
  7. ^ "Meet the Southern Resident killer whales". Orca Conservancy. Retrieved October 4, 2024.
  8. ^ "Our hearts are broken. Our beloved Toki has passed away". Friends of Toki. August 18, 2023. Retrieved August 27, 2023.
  9. ^ Cite error: The named reference :0 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  10. ^ Balcomb, Kenneth C. (December 31, 2016). "J2: In Memoriam". Center for Whale Research. Retrieved July 26, 2017.
  11. ^ "Oldest Puget Sound Orca, 'Granny,' Missing and Presumed Dead". abcnews.go.com. ABC News. Retrieved January 3, 2017.
  12. ^ Tegna. "Oldest Southern Resident killer whale considered dead". KING5.com. Retrieved January 3, 2017.
  13. ^ Podt, Annemieke (December 31, 2016). "Orca Granny: was she really 105?". Retrieved September 11, 2017.