More gray whales have been discovered dead along the western coast of Vancouver Island, bringing the total count of deceased whales to seven for the year. Paul Cottrell, the marine mammal coordinator at the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO), mentioned that two dead gray whales were reported by a hiker and a pilot over the weekend. Cottrell expressed sadness over the recent discoveries and emphasized the need to investigate the cause of death.
In April, a troubling pattern began when four gray whales were found dead within a span of only 10 days on Vancouver Island. Cottrell described the whales as emaciated, highlighting the distressing condition of their bodies. Researchers attribute the deaths to a significant reduction in available prey in the whales’ Arctic feeding grounds, leading to starvation as they journey back north to feed.
The recent surge in gray whale mortality does not come as a surprise to Cottrell, given the recent uptick in gray whale incidents. Official tallies indicate that a total of 36 gray whales have been discovered deceased in the Pacific Ocean this year. John Calambokidis, a research biologist at Cascadia Research Collective, expressed growing alarm at the rate of whale fatalities being reported.
Cascadia Research Collective confirmed that 17 gray whales have been found dead in Washington state this year, with malnutrition being a common factor among the examined whales. Calambokidis expressed deep concern over the acceleration and frequency of these incidents, surpassing previous years’ mortality rates. The worst recorded year for gray whale deaths was in 2019 during an “unusual mortality event.”
Collaborating with partners in California, Oregon, and Washington state, DFO is actively monitoring the situation. Cottrell stressed the collective concern for the declining population and escalating mortality rates. As the migration of whales to the north continues until June, more deceased whales are expected to be discovered, prompting ongoing data collection efforts to assess the severity of the situation.
The gray whale population, estimated at just under 13,000, faces a critical decline. Individuals witnessing distressed marine mammals are encouraged to report sightings to DFO for prompt assistance.