In the winter of 2020, Inuit hunters in Canada’s Central Arctic came across the frozen carcasses of 11 beached bowhead whales, enormous marine mammals that have made a slow but steady comeback since they were driven to the brink of extinction by late 19th and early 20th century whalers.
In the winter of 2020, Inuit hunters in Canada’s Central Arctic came across the frozen carcasses of 11 beached bowhead whales, enormous marine mammals that have made a slow but steady comeback since they were driven to the brink of extinction by late 19th and early 20th century whalers.
Unsure of what killed the whales, the hunters contacted officials at Fisheries and Oceans Canada. Prevented from flying up by the Covid quarantine, scientists instead examined photos and tissue samples sent by the Inuit. The whales were young, thin, and scarred by what looked like teeth marks.
“There was no smoking gun,” according to biologist Jeff Higdon. But he says that the perpetrators were very likely orcas, also called killer whales, which were rarely seen in the High Arctic until sea ice began to retreat, opening pathways for other marine life, including salmon, to entered the highest amount of fish biomass, especially in targeted species, like rockfishes. Stronger protections also correlated with more pronounced results. With international targets aiming to protect more of the world’s oceans, the findings can inform approaches to MPA design and networks that span multiple ecosystems.
Read more at: Yale Environment 360
Photo Credit: Hobbyfotograf08 via Pixabay
