Southern Resident Killer whale dies after sighting near Vancouver Island

VANCOUVER ISLAND (NEWS 1130) — One of the few remaining Southern Resident Killer Whale is believed to have died after being spotted in distress off the coast of Vancouver Island a week ago.

K-21, also known as Cappuccino, was seen starving and removed from his pod on July 30, and is believed to have since passed away.

“Based on the photos we’ve seen, we do not think it is a condition from which he can recover,” a Facebook post from the Orca Behaviour Institute reads.

“It’s never easy to lose one of these whales, but it’s even worse when they aren’t living a complete life. K21 at least had that.”

Dr. Paul Spong, co-director of the Orca Lab, says Cappucino was 35, and the average lifespan of one of the whales is 30.

“I’m not sure about the immediate circumstances but I don’t think it’s anything to be flagged or deeply concerned about,” he says.

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With fewer than 75 orcas left in the ocean, the whale’s death is once again highlighting the vulnerability of the dwindling population.

“I think everybody is sort of hanging on to the edge of their seat and hoping the best for them,” Spong says.

“They have come very, very close to the point at which they will ultimately become extinct. I don’t think that point is quite yet, but it’s enough of a warning to authorities and everyone really that this is a very dangerous situation, and we need to be very very careful on a number of fronts.”

Decreased salmon runs, noise from watercraft, and human encroachment on the whales’ habitat are all factors affecting the population’s health. Spong says the recent closure of some open cage fish farms in the region is a step in the right direction, but that shutting all of them down is what is needed to really help restore the food supply.