【】

At an estimated age of 105 years old, the orca known to researchers as "Granny" is presumed to be dead.
Labelled J2, she was a member of the Puget Sound orcas which are located in Washington State in the U.S., a small and closely monitored group of the species.
SEE ALSO:Drone captures badass killer whales killing a shark like it's NBDOver the last 40 years, J2 has been witnessed "thousands of times" according to the Center for Whale Research, but hasn't been seen since October.
She's believed to be the oldest of her species, give or take a 12-year margin of error.
She was last spotted swimming north on Haro Strait, well ahead of J pod -- one of the three family groups of whales that travel with their mothers or grandmothers.
"Perhaps other dedicated whale-watchers have seen her since then, but by year's end she is officially missing from the SRKW (Southern Resident Killer Whales) population, and with regret we now consider her deceased," the Center for Whale Research's Executive Director, Kenneth Balcomb, wrote in a touching obituary for J2.
The death brings the toll of dead or missing whales to seven in 2016, with the region's population of the whales down to 78 by the end of the year. That's despite the birth of eight babies in 2015.
Tweet may have been deleted
Listed as endangered in 2005, orcas continue to battle despite a decade of research, protection and recovery efforts -- struggling due to a lack of food, pollution and disturbances from marine vessels.
Decades ago there were more than 140 Southern Resident Killer Whales, declining to 71 in the 1970s when dozens were captured for display at marine parks and aquariums.
J2's long lifespan was an example of why orcas shouldn't be kept in captivity, but questions remain on who will lead J pod now, which contains 24 individuals.
Associated Presscontributed reporting.
Featured Video For You
This ballet dancer proves dancers come in all shapes and sizes
TopicsAnimals
相关文章
This chart shows just how high Simone Biles can jump
American gymnast Simone Biles has dominated the Rio Olympics with five medals (four of them gold) bu2025-04-24世界杯進球歸B費還是C羅 ?葡萄牙足協未計劃向FIFA施壓(c羅國家隊進球國家)
世界杯進球歸B費還是C羅?葡萄牙足協未計劃向FIFA施壓c羅國家隊進球國家)_世界杯 ( 葡萄牙,進球 )www.ty42.com 日期:2022-12-09 00:00:00| 評論(已有35592025-04-24【波盈足球】 馬克宏「強擁」姆巴佩蹭熱度 挨批政治作秀過頭 ( 法國,球員 )
【波盈足球】 馬克宏「強擁」姆巴佩蹭熱度 挨批政治作秀過頭 ( 法國,球員 )www.ty42.com 日期:2022-12-20 00:00:00| 評論(已有356061條評論)2025-04-24真強大 !!巴西4比1韓國晉級8強!!(巴西對陣韓國奧運會今天幾點開始)
真強大 ! !巴西4比1韓國晉級8強!!巴西對陣韓國奧運會今天幾點開始)_世界杯 ( 巴西,韓國 )www.ty42.com 日期:2022-12-06 00:00:00| 評論(已有355978條評論2025-04-245 people Tim Cook calls for advice on running the biggest company in the world
It's only fitting that the leader of the biggest company in the world has a pretty impressive list o2025-04-24巴西連續8屆世界杯闖進八強 ,內馬爾比肩大羅貝利|數說(2018年世界杯戰績表)
巴西連續8屆世界杯闖進八強 ,內馬爾比肩大羅貝利|數說2018年世界杯戰績表)_世界杯 ( 世界杯,克羅地亞 )www.ty42.com 日期:2022-12-07 00:00:00| 評論(已有352025-04-24
最新评论