Apparent death of 47-year-old orca matriarch could have serious effects on pod, scientists fear

Scientists are reporting another challenge to thecritically endangered southern resident killer whales in the waters off British Columbia, Washington state and Oregon.

A statement from the Center for Whale Research in Washington says a 47-year-old female identified as L47 has not been seen for nearly seven months and is likely dead.

The centresays its teams have spotted the matriarch's three surviving offspring and their two calves several times since L47 was last seen off B.C.'s Salt Spring Island in February, but the elder killer whale was not with them.

L47'sapparent death, along with the confirmed death in July of a 35-year-old maleorcafrom a different pod, would reduce the total number of primarily salmon-eatingsouthern resident orcas to 73.

Older, post-reproductive females hold a key, matriarch-like role in southern resident pods, especially when food is scarce, and the centresays the loss of this female's leadership could have severe consequences.

It says the risk of death for L47's children and their offspring over the next two years is now three to six times higher, and it could increase if salmon populations continue to dwindle.

Endangered southern residents travel in three separate extended family groups, known as pods: K, J and L.

L47, who was also known to researchers as Marina, was a matriarch of L pod, which now has about 32 members.

The matriarch has had seven calves and they survived long enough to be given alphanumeric designations, the most of any southern resident.

The centresays its studies show matriarchs support the survival of the pod by acting as "repositories for ecological knowledge,'' guiding their groups to salmon foraging grounds, and that their knowledge is especially important during years when salmon returns are low.

It says older reproductive females can also fill this role, raising the potential that L47's leadership could pass to either of her daughters or any other older female within the pod.