wa orca catalog_print3
TRANSCRIPT
WA ORCA RESEARCH WA ORCA RESEARCH
NINGALOONINGALOO PHOTO PHOTO ID CATALOG ID CATALOG
Please report sightings to MIRG at 0419 949 939
WA03 ‘Augie’ – juvenile male – age 10 years
Photo-‐identification of whales started in the early 1970s with Dr Michael Bigg’s killer whale research off the coast of British Columbia. Photo ID (capturing images showing unique and recognisable markings), recorded positions and dates of observations allow analysis of populations, life histories, social structure, genealogy (family groups), and distribution. Our photo ID work with the animals re-‐visiting the Ningaloo coast each winter is starting to show some of this information and has revealed a few of the kinships. Long-‐term study of these animals will enable monitoring of the population, possible threats and the effect they are having as apex predators on the marine ecosystem. This catalogue will also be a useful resource for other researchers and avid whale watchers alike. WA18 ‘Kone’ has been named after a particular animal that features in the pioneering work of Dr Michael Bigg. Breaching off Lighthouse bommie – female from Hook and Abby’s group.
WA01 ‘Geo’ – first sighted in 2005
WA02 ‘Hook’ – adult female, first sighted 2006
WA03 ‘Augie’ – juvenile male (received tag in 2014)
WA04 ‘Jigsaw’ – female, first sighted in ‘06
WA05 ‘Pimp’ – female, first sighted in ’06
WA06 ‘Wisp’ – adult female, first sighted in 2011
WA07 ‘Willo’ – juvenile, first sighted in 2011 WA08 ‘Pec’ – adult female, first sighted in 2010
WA09 ‘Chips’ – female, first sighted 2012 WA10 ‘Spinner’
WA11 ‘Elle’ – female (born 2013 est)
WA12 ‘Tiff’ – juvenile male WA13 ‘Kitz’ – juvenile
WA14 ‘Abby’ – adult female (tagged in 2013)
WA15 ‘Cosmo’ (born 2012 est)
WA16
WA17 – with WA16
WA18 ‘Kone’ with Hook WA02
WA19 large male from group of 12 animals – Aug 2013
WA20 ‘Fin’ (born early 2014 est)
WA21 ‘Pablo’ – large male, first sighted in 2005, again in 2010
WA22 – adult male, first sighted July 2014
WU02 – sighted January 2010 WU03 – sighted January 2010
WU03 & WU04 WU06
Abby and Hook’s group ‘mingling’ out in the canyons (08 Aug 2013)
Satellite Tag deployment transmitting tag in place small scar left
The data gained from tagging includes local fine-‐scale movements, larger migration tracks and dive profiles. The almost real-‐time location data allows frequent follow-‐up observations of group behaviour, social structures and the capture of ID photos essential for population estimates. The dive profiles provide insight into feeding behaviour helping to determine the effect on particular prey species. _________________________________________________________________________________________________
All research is carried out under Australian Commonwealth Government and WA State Government permits and licences – issued to MIRG Australia.
© MIRG Australia 2015 – copying of all or part of this document is restricted under copyright
Please report any sightings to MIRG at 0419 949 939