— by Lin McNulty —
[metaslider id=31621]
Connie Domeneck of the Whale Museum in Friday Harbor confirms a sad rumor.
The new baby orca born in early September, the first baby orca born in two years, has gone missing from L-pod and presumed to have died. “A baby that young,” says Domeneck, “is not able to survive on its own.”
The pod left our local area on September 21 to head down-sound. Upon their return this past week, L-120 was not with the pod. After two sightings of the orcas, it was verified that L-120 was no longer with them. The gender of L-120 had not been determined.
**If you are reading theOrcasonian for free, thank your fellow islanders. If you would like to support theOrcasonian CLICK HERE to set your modestly-priced, voluntary subscription. Otherwise, no worries; we’re happy to share with you.**
This news breaks our hearts!! Puget Sound needs an honest, thorough testing of all waters AND NO NAVY SONAR OR ANY OTHER UNDERWATER TESTING THAT ENDANGERS MARINE LIFE!!
While a newborn’s death is always sad news, let us keep in mind that Orca mortality rates are up to 50% in the first year, historically. The cause of this loss is probably impossible to determine.