The population of killer whales between Canada and the Pacific Northwest in the U.S. continues to decline, and researchers aren’t sure why. They are particularly concerned about six of the orca whales (Oskar, Squirty, Orcan, Cetus, Luna, and an unnamed juvenile) that have not returned to their summer range in the San Juan Islands. Kelley Balcomb-Bartok of the Center for Whale Research said, “We’ve never lost so many in such a short time.” He added, “We don’t expect them back.” For news of other whales, join Roger Payne aboard a whale research ship this week via the Grist Magazine website.
