Very sad :( On Dec. 4, a lone orca washed up on shore in Georgia Strait. Immediately conflicting rumors began to circulate, ranging from the orca being a male to being a female that possibly died while birthing a calf. After photos were sent to Ken Balcomb for the Center for Whale Research and Canadas Department of Fisheries and Oceans, the orca was successfully identified as 18-year-old J32 Rhapsody. While the death of any orca isnt good news, this is devastating. This endangered family of orcas is now at an all time low of 77 members. Many people had been hopeful that J32 might be getting ready to have her first calf as she appeared to be in the late stages of pregnancy this past summer. Some speculate that it may have contributed to her death. Rhapsody will be remembered as a very active and special whale. She was known for pop-corning out of the water, giving orca lovers a treat whenever she was around. This is the fourth death in the southern resident population this year. 37-year-old L53 Lulu and 13-year-old L100 Indigo went missing earlier in 2014. The first calf born in two years, L120, went missing after just seven weeks of life. The possibility of Rhapsodys pregnancy made many people hopeful. One must now wonder what is in store for these orcas that so many have come to treasure. Can they be saved? https://thedodo/community/loveroforcas/another-blow-dealt-to-the-sout-859407368.html
Posted on: Sun, 07 Dec 2014 14:38:01 +0000
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