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The Road ahead for L124: Reality sets in for new Southern Resident orca

New Southern Resident orca calf!

Last Thursday, while I was on my way to give a presentation to Oregon’s Midcoast Watershed Council on the connection between Southern Resident orcas and watersheds (and hopefully inspire some whale advocates to dig in to salmon habitat recovery!), my phone started buzzing with messages.  The Southern Residents had been causing quite a stir in…

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Shared Sorrow – loss in the Southern Resident orcas

Last Wednesday night (August 8th), my heart sank as I read my messages: Tahlequah (J35) was spotted near the Olympic Peninsula off the coast of Washington State, still carrying the body of her dead daughter, 15 days after her birth (and death).  I hoped it was somehow not true – an old sighting confused with…

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Captive beluga loses first calf

Earlier this year, we shared the sad news that Qinu, a beluga held at Georgia Aquarium, was pregnant with her first calf – a continuation of the horrible legacy of captivity.  Unfortunately, Georgia Aquarium has reported that Qinu’s calf died before birth.  This news comes after SeaWorld Orlando also announced the death of a newborn beluga…

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The Baby Boom Continues

Last week, in the midst of the largest gathering of marine mammal scientists in the world (more on that later!), we learned that the Center for Whale Research had confirmed the seventh new calf this year in the critically endangered Southern Resident orca community.  New baby J54 was spotted with 22-year-old mother Polaris (J28) –…

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