SEATTLE — The race is on to save Southern Resident Killer Whales (SRKW) after earlier this year scientists predicted a faster track to extinction. Monitoring their health and sharing that data could be key to the efforts to stave off the loss of the species.
In a series of reports, KING 5 is examining where their numbers stand and what's at risk if they're lost altogether. Scientists, veterinarians and others are working to track the health of each individual whale, while also pushing for policy choices to protect them.
A mobile health check-up
SeaDoc Society science director and veterinarian Joe Gaydos said to think of their monitoring of orcas' health like a trip to the doctor's office -- but it's in a mobile office where scientists come to the orcas.
"For Southern Residents, it's not, 'Are you drinking, are you smoking, do you exercise,'" Gaydos said. "It's the contaminants in your system, how much noise is in the ocean, is there enough food for you to eat, and what we've realized recently is, do you have any diseases going on?"
Scientists have been studying orcas for years, but now have even more tools with which to do so.
In trips permitted by the National Marine Fisheries Service, the SeaDoc Society observes orcas and gathers data to help assess their health. Using a drone, they assess each animal's height and weight to see if they're skinny, healthy or pregnant. With infrared cameras, scientists check if orcas' temperatures are in a normal range or if there are signs of fever. They also check for lesions on the skin and collect breath samples to search for pathogens or abnormal cells.
"I would like to see us be able to incorporate not just veterinarians, but all the biologists that know them well," Gaydos said. "They'll say, 'I was out taking photographs and this animal didn't look right.' That's what allows us to bring our child into the emergency room."
Gaydos said they are working to create electronic medical records that can be shared and used by agencies like NOAA, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, and the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife.
"We're making progress; we just need to push that faster," Gaydos said.
Issues impacting Southern Residents
Most researchers agree on several of the key problems the population faces: pollutants, vessel noise, and a loss of food.
Pollutants like PCBs have built up in orcas' bodies, with more entering through the fish they eat. Vessel traffic and noise make it tough for the Southern Residents to find food and chase away prey.
Then, there's the supply of prey itself. Southern Residents only eat fish -- mostly Chinook salmon. When there's not enough to go around, they may not starve, but they'll lack nutrition, making them more susceptible to the disease.
Michael Weiss, the research director for the Center for Whale Research, said the number one issue for orcas is the lack of Chinook salmon.
"There are a lot of things we can do to help in addition to improving Chinook stocks, but if we don't increase salmon abundance, nothing else is going to matter," said Weiss.
All of those factors add up when it comes to the survival of the species.
"Most of them are doing okay but they're just on the margin right now," Gaydos said. "They're not as good as we'd like to see- say like the Northern residents, with their body condition. [The Northern Residents are looking] much better- same diet, same behavior, more salmon available to them, less contaminants available to them."
Some people are not hopeful about improving the Southern Residents chances for survival -- but Gaydos is.
"Hope is not a plan, but you have to have hope," Gaydos said. "I would like to see more effort, more energy and funding, but I think we can do it. I know we can do it. That's what brings me to work every day."
Researchers said some of the top priorities for improving conditions include:
- Restoring habitats and restricting pollutants to keep the food chain safe
- Restore salmon population including through efforts to clear fish passage barriers
- Continuing to reduce noise from nearby vessels
- Monitoring and treatment work
Gaydos said progress is being made in all of these areas, but more funding for work and enforcement of laws is needed.
"I think we're in that position now where we've been doing the easy things and now we need to do some more hard stuff," Gaydos said. "You can make a law but if you don't enforce it, people don't pay attention to it."
Steps to improve conditions for orcas
An executive order by Gov. Jay Inslee created a task force to make recommendations for the health, wellness and restoration of Southern Residents. Tara Galuska, a longtime environmental advocate, was brought in to serve as orca recovery coordinator.
"I want people to have hope," Galuska said. "I want people to know they live in a beautiful environment but they have to do their part if they want to keep it that way."
She points to several recent actions aimed at addressing some of these issues.
On vessel noise, she said the Quiet Sound program has involved businesses in voluntary slowdowns. The Coast Guard has also begun an alert system and a new law will require vessels to keep greater distance from Southern Resident orcas.
As for pollution, she pointed to a Safer Products Washington list to promote more ecologically sound products and efforts to limit and reduce chemicals of concern.
She said there are some ways everyone can do their part.
"You also need to be thinking when you're at home about what you put down the drain, the garbage, just your use of products," Galuska said. "Dispose chemicals and pharmaceuticals properly, and wash your car in a carwash rather than your driveway because that drains into the water and we're all so close to the water here."
For inspiration, Gaydos looks to species such as mountain gorillas, which were on the brink of extinction until extensive efforts to stop poaching, prevent infections and survey their health brought them up to endangered status. The factors plaguing orcas are far different, but Gaydos said the stakes for success or failure make all the work worth it.
"If we can't save this population, we won't save other populations," Gaydos said. "We owe it to the whales, we owe it to ourselves. They're a part of the collective culture, in Seattle, in Vancouver. We have to take care of our neighbors. This is just taking care of our neighbors."