Three 'Critically Endangered' Orcas Are Pregnant
September 20, 2021
Three pregnancies discovered in the southern resident orcas' J pod could help save the species.
Image by Eveline de Bruin
The southern resident orcas represent the smallest of four resident communities within the northeastern portion of the North America North Pacific Ocean.
There are currently only 74 southern resident orcas left.
"It's pretty exciting and it's very significant," biologist Lance Barrett-Lennard told CBC News. "The southern resident population of which [the] J-pod belongs to is critically endangered."
Scientists in Washington state discovered the pregnancies using aerial drones.
"The use of drones has revolutionized everything," Barrett-Lennard said. "It supplies us with very high-resolution photographs.... One can see the edges of the whales pretty well and measure their total length and shape ... and of course we can detect pregnancies fairly early."
Researchers are hopeful that the three mothers-to-be will overcome tough odds and help bring their species back from the brink.
"In most years they have no reproduction at all," Barrett-Lennard said. "So having three pregnancies is good, it's exciting. This is what the pod needs."
Click Here For The Most Popular On Sunny Skyz
Alligator Filmed Climbing In A Fence In South Carolina
Dog Completely Changes From Black To White
Woman's Post Sparks A Flood Of Heartfelt Kindness Stories, And Tears Are Flowing Everywhere
Local Police Department Makes Public Statement To Community On Taylor Swift's New Album
Rainn Wilson Gets A 'The Office' Style Room Service Surprise On Vacation
Pawsitively Pampered: Park Ranger Gives Lions Foot Massages
Alligator Filmed Climbing In A Fence In South Carolina
Little Boy Explains Where 'Ladies First' Comes From
Alligator's 'Cartoonish' Retreat From Dog's Bark Goes Viral – Laughter Guaranteed!
Unlikely Friendship Sparks When Boy Mistakes Multimillionaire For Homeless Man
Carly Rae Jepsen Puts Security Guard On The Spot And He Delivers