Searching for Killer Whales Monitoring Program
The goal of the Searching for Killer Whales is to collect current information about the killer whales that spend time off the coast of Oregon. We’ve partnered with Adventure Scientists to establish a rigorous protocol for community members to help support the conservation of the Southern Resident killer whales. Our goal is to collect data for NOAA’s Killer Whale Recovery Plan and the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife’s Endangered Species Management Plan.
Sign up here to learn more! Your participation is critical to helping us better understand this charismatic creature and inform federal and state management plans.
Aplicación y entrenamiento, ahora disponibles en Español.
Identifying Individuals
Similar to many other types of cetaceans, killer whales, also known as orcas, can be distinguished from one another based on their natural markings and variations in the shape of their fins.
Orcas have a distinctive dorsal fin, which exhibits differences in shape and size, often featuring unique marks such as nicks, indentations, and scars. Additionally, the whitish-grey pigmentation on their backs, known as their saddle patch, varies in shape, size, color, and the presence of scratches and scars from one individual to another.
Much like a human fingerprint, each saddle patch is distinct, aiding in the identification of individual orcas. This individual identification process within the Southern Resident orca community enables the precise tracking of the population through an annual census, ensuring that each whale is recognized and accounted for.
