SRKW Orcas & Humpback Cross Paths 9-23-18

Filmed at dusk. Humpback 4:53, 6:04 into video. Twice the humpback's big-breath-roar can be heard. Traveling in opposite directions, the orcas & humpback pass within meters of each other. These orcas are members of L- Pod. The endangered Southern Residents are suffering a critical food shortage and there are only 74 members left. The latest loss is a 4 year old female orca. Rest in peace, J50 "Scarlet". Please see links below to get involved.
SRKW Recovery & Task Force, www.governor.wa.gov/issues/is...
Be Whale Wise - Follow these guidelines and local laws in the presence of marine wildlife. www.bewhalewise.org/
Salmon Recovery and breaching the four lower Snake River Dams:
Damsense, damsense.org/
www.orcasalmonalliance.org/
srkwcsi.org/
Orca Network, www.orcanetwork.org/
The Whale Trail, thewhaletrail.org/
Center for Whale Research, www.whaleresearch.com/
The Whale Museum of Friday Harbor, whalemuseum.org/
Listen to underwater hydrophones - www.orcasound.net

[@SmolderingRuin]

Thanks so much for this spectacular and thrilling video. I'll check the links.

[@989razzle]

Hi Linda! Thanks for your kind comment and as always, thank you for watching :)

[@SmolderingRuin]

As always, thank YOU for being there and bringing it to us. I'm sorry about the loss of J50 "Scarlet".

[@989razzle]

Thanks my friend. The orca community is really heart broken but working on ways to turn this situation around.

[@SmolderingRuin]

I'm glad the orcas have people who care and are helping. Thanks again for your work.

[@bigskyshi]

Very Cool! TY! I recently watched a show about shortages of food for marine life in different areas around the world. Is there a specific reason for it where these whales are? Is it related to el nino?

[@989razzle]

Hi Shireen. The Southern Resident orcas are fish eaters and prefer chinook salmon. The construction of many dams along the rivers; urban development, which has degraded the health of the rivers have drastically depleted the salmon populations. A century of overfishing has taken it's toll as well. These whales live and hunt near large cities with big urban populations and their waters and food contain toxins which the whales store in their blubber. In this area there are also Bigg's Transient orcas. Transients are mammal eaters and have a good food supply. They prefer pinnipeds; seals and sea lions which are plentiful in the area. The Transient's are doing quite well. I don't think they are affected by el nino but some of the researchers are devoting time to studying climate change effects that may impact the salmon and even what the salmon eat. Thanks so much for your thoughtful question, Shireen :) :)