At an estimated age of 105 years old,Watch Friends the orca known to researchers as "Granny" is presumed to be dead.
Labelled J2, she was a member of the Puget Sound orcas which are located in Washington State in the U.S., a small and closely monitored group of the species.
SEE ALSO: Drone captures badass killer whales killing a shark like it's NBDOver the last 40 years, J2 has been witnessed "thousands of times" according to the Center for Whale Research, but hasn't been seen since October.
She's believed to be the oldest of her species, give or take a 12-year margin of error.
She was last spotted swimming north on Haro Strait, well ahead of J pod -- one of the three family groups of whales that travel with their mothers or grandmothers.
"Perhaps other dedicated whale-watchers have seen her since then, but by year's end she is officially missing from the SRKW (Southern Resident Killer Whales) population, and with regret we now consider her deceased," the Center for Whale Research's Executive Director, Kenneth Balcomb, wrote in a touching obituary for J2.
The death brings the toll of dead or missing whales to seven in 2016, with the region's population of the whales down to 78 by the end of the year. That's despite the birth of eight babies in 2015.
This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.
Listed as endangered in 2005, orcas continue to battle despite a decade of research, protection and recovery efforts -- struggling due to a lack of food, pollution and disturbances from marine vessels.
Decades ago there were more than 140 Southern Resident Killer Whales, declining to 71 in the 1970s when dozens were captured for display at marine parks and aquariums.
J2's long lifespan was an example of why orcas shouldn't be kept in captivity, but questions remain on who will lead J pod now, which contains 24 individuals.
Associated Presscontributed reporting.
Topics Animals
Previous：The Swamp Thickens
Next：The Listening Con
No Country of Civil Men
Megyn Kelly shuts down Trump supporter on Muslim registry 'precedent'
Planned Parenthood thanks 20,000 people that have cleverly trolled Mike Pence
Thank you, C
The Saran-Wrapped Soul
'Overwatch' pro uses Sombra in a tournament, dies immediately
Researchers are using drones and AI to count dugongs in the ocean
Trump's Twitter bots turned out on Election Day
Hang the Landlord
Jennifer Hudson, Ariana Grande to end 'Hairspray Live' show with special duet
Presidential Confusion
Here's all the info J.K. Rowling shared about American magic that you totally forgot about
If you love watching pimples pop, you'll love this cheesy burger
Canadian parliament debated controversial use of the word 'fart' (yes, really)
The Feminist Horizon
'Trump is Coming' is the most terrifying challenge yet
Hillary Clinton in first speech since conceding says: 'Never, ever give up'
This NFL player just dropped all kinds of 'Lord of the Rings' references
The Fatberg Cometh
Google Allo now predicts which emoji you want to use
How whales went from just big to absolutely enormousHigh vs. low visual weight: What is it and how does it help define your facial features?'True Detective: Night Country': Everything you need to knowNike, Google, and other companies slam Trump's decision on climate agreement8 things Trump said about the Paris Climate Agreement that are total BSFemale creators and UGC content dominate the influencer marketing industry, report findsNike, Google, and other companies slam Trump's decision on climate agreementNYT's The Mini crossword answers for February 20Apple faces €500m fine from EU over Spotify complaintPope Francis just threw some serious papal shade at Donald TrumpNYT's The Mini crossword answers for February 17Apple faces €500m fine from EU over Spotify complaint'True Detective: Night Country' finale: Who killed the scientists?Elon Musk to Donald Trump: If you leave the Paris Climate Agreement, I'm outHere’s why you shouldn’t totally despair if the U.S. ditches the Paris Climate AgreementTrump's budget would put America's wild horses on dinner platesJ.K. Rowling sends massive F U to Trump over Paris Climate AgreementTrump drops Paris Climate Agreement; Elon Musk drops president's business councilBen Affleck's Dunkin ad is his version of JLo's 'This Is Me…Now'In Paris Agreement speech, Trump never acknowledged the reality of global warming Already! (Or, Baudelaire at Sea) by Dan Piepenbring Facts First: An Interview with Michele Zackheim by Valerie Hemingway The Morning News Roundup for March 25, 2014 Good Taste by Sadie Stein What We’re Loving: Dead Poets, Dead Magazines, Dead Zoo Gang Infinite Reality by Kaya Genc Sadie Stein on Smiling at Strangers in Public The Morning News Roundup for March 27, 2014 On Knowing Things Sadie Stein on the Comic Song “The Cat Came Back” Finding a Life on the Edge by Laurel Holland How to Save Frozen Books Read Zadie Smith’s Story from Our Spring Issue Sadie Stein on the Things We Are Supposed to Love The Morning News Roundup for April 9, 2014 Listen to Frederick Seidel read his poem “For Holly Andersen” The Morning News Roundup for March 31, 2014 Happy Birthday, Donald Barthelme Sadie Stein on Philip Larkin’s Poem “The Trees” Translating Pushkin Hills: An Interview with Katherine Dovlatov by Valerie Stivers
1.7837s , 10106.5859375 kb
Copyright © 2025 Powered by 【Watch Friends】,Creation Information Network