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09 September 2019

New killer whale monitoring data

Scientists of the Russian Federation research Institute of fisheries and Oceanography (VNIRO) and the Institute of ecology and evolution of the Russian Academy of Sciences (IPEE RAS) in the course of joint monitoring of the behavior of killer whales in natural habitat found another animal in the wild family.

During the monitoring carried out on catamarans in the area of the Shantar Islands, scientists observed a family of wild killer whales off the coast of the island of South Shantar archipelago. There were at least 14 killer whales in the group that were photographed. After careful analysis of the photos and their comparison with the photo and description of the animals from Middle Bay, it was noted that one of the killer whales in the group has the characteristic scars of the selected mark. Individual signs have identified this killer whale as Zina, released in the second batch on August 6. The animal got rid of the mark, which she set at release.

"Some orcas from the wild family, where were met by Zina, was previously identified, included in fotokatalog and have biological information, - said the Deputy Director on scientific work of VNIRO Vyacheslav Bizikov. "They're classified as a 'carnivorous' ecotype."

According to recent data from satellite tags, orcas from the third edition Zoya, Tikhon, and a Gaika and joined them, the younger female Alexandra from the second edition, about 10 days moved along. The group then broke up and now three females Zoya, Alexandra and Gaika are near the island Feklistova Shantar archipelago, male Tikhon went Tugurskiy Bay.

Orcas Harya and Forest, making the journey from Cape Perovskogo past of Sakhalin island in the open sea, returned to Sakhalin Bay. Two Beluga whales from the fourth issue with installed tags are also located in the Sakhalin Bay. In this area, scientists and fishermen noted the emergence of wild killer whales and Beluga whales.

VNIRO Press Service