The endangered southern resident killer whale population has dropped to 72, its lowest point since 2020, after an adult male orca and a calf were both listed as missing, presumed dead.
Last seen in July 2024, 31-year-old male K26, also known as Lobo, was noted as missing by the Centre for Whale Research after an encounter with his family (K pod) on Oct. 29.
“He has not been seen in the last three encounters despite the presence of the rest of his family,” said the centre’s sighting report.
Also observed on Oct. 29 was L pod, with calf L128’s absence noted by the team. First spotted in the waters around Greater Victoria in September, the calf was last seen on Oct. 5.
“Our field staff noted dramatic signs of emaciation at that time, and we feared it would not survive,” said researchers.
The news follows only weeks after the Centre for Whale Research reported in October the findings of its 49th census of the whale population.
Completed in July this year, the census found the three southern resident pods had lost three animals, two adult males and a male calf. The losses left the population at 73, however, this did not include calf L128, born after the census.
The news has come as a blow to Orca Conservancy, a U.S.-based organization working to help recover the critically endangered southern resident killer whale population.
“K26 will likely be declared deceased on the next census, which will bring K pod down to only 14 members, and the entire southern resident population count down to a total of 72, the lowest it has been since 2020,” said Orca Conservancy in an online statement.
“With the southern resident population lingering in the low 70s, they face lack of genetic diversity, so the potential loss of another breeding male is a major blow to the population.”
