A well-known northern resident orca known as I76 has died off the coast of Vancouver Island.
The nonprofit OrcaLab, based on B.C.’s Hanson Island, said some of its members witnessed the 28-year-old male’s death in Johnstone Strait on Sunday.
“He was extremely thin and having difficulties,” said co-director Helena Symonds in a post on the organization’s website.
She said whale researcher Jared Towers had joined them to look for I76 due to concerns about his condition. The orca was found on the Vancouver Island side of the Strait opposite to the entrance to Blackney Pass. The rest of his group, known as I4, were further away.
Symonds said several dolphins were seen surrounding and overwhelming the male, whose mother raced over, “clearly upset.”
“From that time on his family remained close to his side with the dolphins surrounding the entire family who were more or less stationary. This continued until just before 3pm when I76 took his last breath and sank out of sight into the depths. His family lingered near his last position, then began to call,” said Symonds.
She said I76’s family turned and left the straight, passing by the Lab where members and friends had gathered to mourn the whale’s passing, before connecting with another group of orcas.
OrcaLab said the northern resident orcas typically make the Johnstone Strait area their home in the summer months. It said that as of 2022 there were 310 of the whales in existence.
A 2001 report prepared for the federal government said the average life expectancy for male resident orcas is around 29 years, provided they survive past the calf stage. However, some have been known to live up to 60 years.
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