Dead orca calf was member of endangered population

January 15, 2013 @ 2:20 pm

SEATTLE (AP) - NOAA's Fisheries Service say a dead newborn orca calf found on Washington's Olympic Peninsula last week belongs to a population of endangered killer whales.

The agency said Tuesday that scientists are trying to determine what killed the 7 1/2-foot-long male calf. He was found on a Dungeness Spit beach.

Initial DNA analysis shows the calf was a member of the southern resident killer whales that spend summer months in Puget Sound.

NOAA spokesman Brian Gorman says the death is not unusual and that mortality rates among killer whales tends to be high.


(Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)
More Local News
Top Stories

  • Heartstopping
    Daredevils post breathtaking pictures atop Seattle landmarks

  • Snowy Passes
    Escape cold Seattle; go skiing at Crystal Mountain

  • Dirty Wars
    Director Jeremy Scahill says Obama hasn't been fighting a clean war
MyNorthwest.com - Purpose of Comments statement
Bonneville Media encourages site users to express their opinions by posting comments. Our goal is to maintain a civil dialogue in which readers feel comfortable. At times, the comments can descend to personal attacks. Please do not engage in such behavior. We encourage your thoughtful comments which: have a positive and constructive tone, are on topic, are respectful toward others and their opinions. Bonneville reserves the right to remove comments which do not conform to these criteria.

Comments (1)