ORCAS

Predation on Gray whales by Orcas appears to have increased in the last decade with mortality as high as 30% per year in bad years.

No-one knows why, but some scientists believe that transient orcas, animals responsible for the devastating attacks on Gray whales, are also starving because of the diminishing food supply in the ocean.   

What we do know is that transient Orcas can cause havoc in populations on which they predate.  The Orca is the only known natural enemy of the Gray whale – and what an enemy!

Orcas prey on Gray whales as they migrate north to their feeding grounds.  Mothers and calves are the primary target of these orcas although juveniles are taken as well.  Monterey Bay and Unimak Pass are two of the critical areas. 

Whale watching captains in Monterey Bay tell pitiful stories of Gray whale mothers trying to protect their calves from packs of Orcas.  Many whales travel close to the coastline so they can hide in the kelp and swim in shallow waters which Orcas tend to avoid.  Others cut straight across the canyon where the waters are deeper. Some whale researchers believe younger whales and first time mothers may lack the knowledge and experience to take the safer route along the coastline.

Once a mother/calf Gray Whale pair are detected, Orcas group up and pursue them until the Grays are slowed down and surrounded by the Orca pod.   Up to six hours may pass from the initial attack to the kill which includes ramming, biting, pulling on the pectoral fins and making attempts to separate mothers and calves.  Mothers will often try to dash to safety with her calf, or roll on her belly with her calf on top as a respite from the brutal onslaught.   Once the mother and calf are separated, the Orcas drown the calf.    All that the Orcas take for food are the tongue and blubber from around the lower jaw.  Sometimes they take all the blubber.

The California Gray Whale Coalition can find no evidence to suggest that the US Government takes into account the very high mortality rates caused by Orca predation.   Omitting Orca caused mortality from the complex Potential Biological Removal (PBR) formula – a mathematical hypothesis which is set out under the provisions of the US Marine Mammal Protection Act, is cause for considerable alarm.

As with so many issues impacting the Gray Whale, Orca predation is in the too hard basket.  But if the recent scientific research which suggests cascading extinctions caused by over-fishing, climate change and pollution is right, we can expect to see an increase in Orca predation caused by increasing starvation.

We know from Russian scientists that Orca predation on Gray Whales on the Russian side of the Chukchi Sea is substantial.  But the US government does not take these statistics into account.

The CALIFORNIA GRAY WHALE COALITION is dedicated to protecting the most ancient Baleen Whale on Planet Earth.

SIGN THE PETITION

"I request that the new US Congress take all necessary steps to fund a comprehensive review of all the major threats facing the California Gray Whale."

"A growing number of Gray Whales in the sub Arctic waters are contaminated. As bottom feeders, these whales are vulnerable to toxic pollution.  Recent data from our worldwide sampling of sperm whale blubber - The Voyage of the Odyssey - show that many whales are polluted to levels that make their meat unsafe for human consumption-a sufficient cause to discontinue whaling."

DR ROGER PAYNE

"The California Gray Whale is an indicator species of the sub Arctic and Arctic Oceans.   With major changes taking place in the polar marine ecosystems, ensuring ongoing research into the major threats facing these majestic whales is critical.  In the light of these changes, Gray Whales deserve the highest legal protection."

DR SLVIA EARLE




"Gray whales face many pressures, such as lack of food, coastal development and increasing ocean noise.  They need better protection."

JEAN-MICHEL COUSTEAU

"And God created the great whales
there in Laguna San Ignacio"

HOMERO ARIDJIS

"the possibility that we might drive these magnificent creatures into extinction is unimaginable and unacceptable."

DARYL HANNAH

"Life began in the sea.  So goes the whale...so goes mankind.  An effort to save the whales benefits us all."

BEAU BRIDGES

"Thanks for leading the fight to save
the Gray Whales"

ED BEGLEY JNR




"The Gray Whale is the marine mammal symbol of California.  It deserves to be protected and honored.  I support the creation of a "Whale of a Day" tribute to this magnificent animal."

PRINCE FREDERIC VON ANHALT

"The Gray Whale faces a myriad of threats from climate change to sonar testing and oil exploration. They need our help and the California Gray Whale Coalition is a leading advocate for this important keystone species."

PEDRO NAVA

"When we fully understand and begin to meet the threats to the California Gray Whale, we will be addressing the problems that face North America's entire Pacific coastal ecosystem."

LYNN WOOLSEY

"Saving the Gray Whales from extinction is an absolute must.  This magnificent, intelligent species cannot be allowed to perish from this earth.  If we ignore their plight we ignore the eventual impact on all species, including our own, of the rapacious practices of mankind."

SARA WAN

"Gray whales need our immediate attention! Due to climate change, their Arctic food supply is diminishing and the numbers of mother-calf pairs on the long migration are the lowest in years."

DICK RUSSELL

Grateful thanks to Baja Eco Tours for these images.