Environment Scientists dismayed by vanishing of 7 whales

[Dr.Jack]

SEATTLE, Washington (AP) -- Seven Puget Sound killer whales are missing and feared dead in what could be the biggest decline among the sound's orcas in nearly a decade, say scientists who carefully track the endangered animals.

This is a disaster," Ken Balcomb, a senior scientist at the Center for Whale Research on San Juan Island, said Friday. "The population drop is worse than the stock market."

While the official census won't be completed until December, the number of live "southern resident" orcas now stands at 83.

Among those missing since last year's count are the nearly century-old leader of one of the three southern resident pods, and two young females who recently bore calves.

The loss of the seven whales, Balcomb said, would be the biggest decline among the Puget Sound orcas since 1999, when the center also tracked a decline of seven whales.

Source.

 

[Asehujiko]

And how the hell did they loose track of a bunch of whales, overnight???

 

[seph ir oth]

And how the hell did they loose track of a bunch of whales, overnight???

Fuckin Arbiters, I bet they're in Auir by now.

 

[undeadorcjerk]

I know where they are!!!



They are in the picture.

How the heck do people lose whales that they just took pictures of?!

 

[eellem1]

The whales may have died, been killed or ended up on another track back. Whales go to another area to mate then head back to their feeding grounds after mating season and sometimes get on the wrong track. They may or may not be back next season. I hope they are lost at sea and not dead.