[Previous entry: "Distler Votes For Additional WSF Fares"] [Next entry: "Doggone Lot Of Fun"]

09/24/2009: "Killer Whales Kill Harbor Porpoise Off SJI"

(Sea DocpPhoto by Robin Baird)

The Sea Doc Society reports researchers observing southern resident killer whales in Haro Strait noticed whales from J- and K-pods "interacting with a harbor porpoise."

The researchers reported one of the whales (J31) was seen on two occasions throwing a harbor porpoise into the air. The entire interaction lasted over 30 minutes.


The report states "The whales continued interacting with the carcass after the porpoise had died then finally left the carcass floating at the surface. After the whales left the area the porpoise was collected with authorization of the San Juan County Marine Mammal Stranding Network and delivered it to Friday Harbor Laboratories.

We necropsied the porpoise and found numerous "rake" marks (from killer whale teeth) on the porpoise, but most were superficial and did not even penetrate through the blubber. There was evidence of hemorrhage (bleeding or bruising) in the lungs, likely from being hit into the air several times by J-31.

This is the 4th porpoise necropsied by SeaDoc and the San Juan County Marine Mammal Stranding Network that has been killed by resident fish-eating killer whales. All of them were left floating once the porpoise died."