What is a killer whale? -Eurasian Review

Killer whales face a variety of deadly threats, according to pathological reports of more than 50 killer whales stuck in the northeastern Pacific and Hawaii for nearly a decade.

A study analyzing the report was published in the journal PLOS ONE.. The findings show that understanding and recognizing each threat is important for managing and protecting killer whale populations. It also provides a basic understanding of orca’s health.

The study was conducted by a team of marine mammal and killer whale experts led by the British Columbia Department of Agriculture and coordinated through the SeaDoc Society, a Washington-based program at the University of California, Davis, School of Veterinary Medicine. Lead author Dr. Stephen Raverty and co-author Dr. John Ford are assistant professions at the University of British Columbia Institute for Marine Fisheries and the Faculty of Animal Science, respectively.

Whales include not only healthy populations of whales, but also endangered species such as southern whales that are regularly witnessed off the coast of British Columbia, Washington, and Oregon.

Of the 52 whales stuck between 2004 and 2013, the cause of death was determined to be 42 percent. For example, one calf died of sepsis after the halibut hook was injured. Another was hungry for a congenital facial malformation. Two whales died from blunt trauma on a ship strike. Other causes of death include infections and malnutrition.

“We can do better”

There was no common cause of death, but the study found a common theme. Artificial deaths have occurred in all age groups, from boys to minors to adults.

“In British Columbia, we lost nine killer whales in the south. Two adults, two sub-adults, and one calf died from trauma. One was a confirmed propeller attack, and There were one adult and two sub-adults suspected of being attacked by a ship, “said Stephen Raverty, a veterinary pathologist at British Columbia and a part-time professor at the UBC Marine Fisheries Institute. “One of these iconic species died from an infectious disease secondary to satellite tagging. Another death was due to a natural cause, the other two were undecided. In this study. Half of the identified southern killer whale deaths were due to human interaction. “

“No one thinks we are directly harming animals,” said Karen C, co-author and UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine. Joe Gaydos, director of the SeaDoc Society, a wildlife veterinarian at the Drayer Wildlife Health Center, said. “But it’s important to understand that it’s not just indirectly damaging them from salmon deficiencies, vascular disturbances, legacy toxins, etc. It’s also a ship strike and fishhook. Humans are of all ages. It’s important to kill the killer whales directly in. It says you can do a better job. “

In 2004, Raverty and Graydos co-developed a standardized killer whale autopsy protocol. This guide was revised in 2014 with the help of pathologist Judy St. Leger, who works at Sea World, and helped improve the examination of dead whales.

“The results of systematic autopsy of dead killer whales in this review are unique and will establish important baseline information for assessing future mitigation efforts,” said Lavati. “This work helps us better understand the impact of ongoing human activities and environmental events on killer whales.”

The authors acknowledge that this report is an incomplete overview of Orca’s health and mortality. Autopsy can only be performed on whales found in good condition to accept them, yet the cause of death cannot always be determined. However, this report provides one of the most comprehensive surveys to date on the numerous human and environmental threats that affect killer whales and helps inform strategies for better protection of killer whales. I will.