Killer Whales Content

Skin Disease in Endangered Killer Whales Concerns Scientists

Katherine E Kerlin — June 28, 2023 - 11:00am

Scientists studying endangered southern resident killer whales have observed a strong increase in the prevalence of skin disease in this population.

What’s Killing Killer Whales?

Katherine E Kerlin — December 02, 2020 - 11:00am

Pathology reports on more than 50 killer whales stranded over nearly a decade in the northeast Pacific and Hawaii show that orcas face a variety of mortal threats — many stemming from human interactions.

A study analyzing the reports was published today (Dec. 2) in the journal PLOS ONE. The study findings indicate that understanding and being aware of each threat is critical for managing and conserving killer whale populations. It also presents a baseline understanding of orca health.

Learning From Gorillas to Save Killer Whales

Katherine E Kerlin — November 07, 2018 - 2:45pm

In 2018, the southern resident killer whale population in the Pacific Northwest’s Salish Sea was at its lowest ever. The world watched in September as an orca named Scarlet, or J50, wasted away and died, leaving just 74 of her kind left. Some wondered if this was “What extinction looks like.”

Wild Killer Whales to Get Personal Health Records

Katherine E Kerlin — April 04, 2016 - 9:10am

Update April 4: Experts at the symposium last week agreed to formulate a plan for individual health records, or a health database, for each of the 84 endangered southern resident orcas in Puget Sound.

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The endangered southern resident killer whales of Puget Sound could soon get their own personal health records following a meeting of wildlife health experts being held March 28-29 in Seattle.

4 Animal Studies for the Wild and Endangered

Robyn Frances Huey — February 12, 2015 - 8:00am

Frustrated elephants, human-hippo conflict, endangered killer whales, climate change for bees. These are the topics that draw people to swag�� graduate school.