Record number of transient orcas spotted in B.C. last year
Researchers and whale-watching groups say 2021 was a record-breaking year for the number of Bigg's killer whales, or transient orcas, seen in the waters of British Columbia.
According to the Orca Behavior Institute, based in Washington state, there were 1,067 unique sightings of Bigg's killer whales in the Salish Sea over 329 days in 2021.
That total is up considerably from the previous record of 747 unique sightings set in 2019.
"It has been incredible to witness the continued rise of Bigg’s killer whales in the Salish Sea," said Monika Wieland Shields, director of Orca Behavior Institute, in a release Tuesday.
"In 2021, there were days when we documented 10 different groups of Bigg’s throughout the region totaling more than 50 whales."
RISING POPULATION
Unlike the critically endangered southern resident killer whale, Bigg's killer whales primarily feed on marine mammals, such as seals and sea lions.
According to the Pacific Whale Watch Association (PWWA), the Bigg's killer whale population is rising at four per cent per year, based on data from the Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada.
Eleven Bigg's calves were estimated to be born in 2021, with the most recent sighting of a calf being near Victoria on New Year's Eve.
The calf is the seventh child of a transient orca named T124A, or "Kittiwake."
"It’s crazy to think that whales like Kittiwake have given birth to so many babies given that the gestation period for orcas is 16-18 months – almost twice that of a human," said Erin Gless, executive director of the PWWA on Tuesday.
"The calf looked great and at one point adorably seemed to take a turn leading the family."
Bigg's killer whales were the most frequently sighted whale in the Salish Sea last year, followed by humpback whales, gray whales, and minke whales, according to the PWWA.
The region also saw a record-breaking 21 humpback whale calves visit the Salish Sea in 2021, almost double the 11 that were spotted in the region in 2020.
Despite a bump in whale sightings for a variety of species, southern resident killer whales continue to be a rarity, with population counts around the 75 mark.
Three southern residents were confirmed to be pregnant last year, but no new calves have been spotted yet, according to the PWWA.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Spectacular aurora light show to be seen across Canada Friday night
A rare and severe solar storm is expected to bring spectacular displays of the northern lights, also known as aurora borealis, across much of Canada and parts of the United States on Friday night.
Which Canadian cities have the highest and lowest grocery prices?
Where you live plays a big factor in what you pay at the grocery store. And while it's no secret the same item may have a different price depending on the store, city or province, we wanted to see just how big the differences are, and why.
McGill University seeks emergency injunction to dismantle pro-Palestinian encampment
McGill University has filed a request for an injunction to have the pro-Palestinian encampment removed from its campus.
Swarm of 20,000 bees gather around woman’s car west of Toronto
A swarm of roughly 20,000 bees gathered around a woman’s car in the parking lot of Burlington Centre.
U.S. says Israel's use of U.S. arms likely violated international law, but evidence is incomplete
The Biden administration said Israel's use of U.S.-provided weapons in Gaza likely violated international humanitarian law but wartime conditions prevented U.S. officials from determining that for certain in specific airstrikes.
Barron Trump declines to serve as an RNC delegate
Former U.S. President Donald Trump's youngest son, Barron Trump, has declined to serve as a delegate at this summer’s Republican National Convention, according to a senior Trump campaign adviser and a statement from Melania Trump's office.
Mother assaulted by stranger while breastfeeding baby in her car: Vancouver police
A person was arrested in East Vancouver Thursday after allegedly entering a car while a mother was breastfeeding her four-month-old boy.
'We have laws': Premier Smith says police action justified in Calgary
The actions, including the decision to use non-lethal force, to disperse pro-Palestinian protesters from the University of Calgary campus were justified, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith said Friday.
'State or state-sponsored actor' believed to be behind B.C. government hacks
The head of British Columbia’s civil service has revealed that a “state or state-sponsored actor” is behind multiple cyber-security incidents against provincial government networks.