- Home
- About PWF
- Science
- Research History
- Current Studies
- Australia Research
- Calving Rates and Intervals of East Australian Female Humpback Whales
- Connectivity and Interchange Between Humpback Whale Aggregation Areas along East Australia
- Dynamics of extralimital feedingby humpback whales off Eden, NSW
- East Australia Humpback Whales
- Pacific Whale Foundation’s Southern Hemisphere Humpback Whale Catalogue
- Rate of Interchange Between East Australia and West Australia Humpback Whales
- Ecuador Research
- Interaction of Small Cetaceans with Artisanal Fisheries in Machalilla National Park
- Population, Distribution and Abundance of Humpback Whales and other Cetaceans in Machalilla National Park
- Photo-identification of dolphins in the Cojimies River Estuary
- Migratory Interchange of Humpback Whales between Peru and Ecuador
- Hawaii Research
- Distribution of Odontocetes in Maui County Waters
- Hawaiian Humpback Whale Catalogue
- Odontocetes of Maui County
- Researcher on Board Humpback Whale Program
- Sea Turtle Foraging and Resting Areas off Maui
- Social Structure of False Killer Whales in Maui County Waters
- Spinner dolphins in Maui County waters
- Other Projects
- Australia Research
- Publications
- Our Research Team
- Notes From The Field
- Donate to help fund our research
- Advocacy & Education
- How You Can Help
- Eco Cruises
- Ocean Store
Close encounter with false killer whales
The whale watch trip on Tuesday morning was a very special one; it was a gorgeous day to be out on the water, we were on board of our new raft (Ocean Freedom) for Ultimate Whale Watch, and we had a very close encounter with false killer whales!
We departed from Ma’alaea harbor on board of our new raft Ocean Freedom, a 40 foot RIB (rigid-hull inflatable boat). Our first encounter was with a mom, calf and escort, with multiple breaches from calf and escort. Suddenly we started to notice small dorsal fins coming out of the water; at first we weren’t sure what species of odontocete they were, but when we got closer we had a great surprise, they were false killer whales! They were about 10-12 animals and they were very spread out over a large area. Unexpectedly, one animal swam alongside the raft, allowing amazing viewing chance for everyone. It was so cool! First time all of us had an opportunity to see these rare and especial tooth whales so close! Very exciting!
False killer whales (Pseudorca crassidens) are large member of the tooth whale family, Delphinidae. They have a dark coloration but for some lighter areas near the throat and middle chest, conic head without a beak, tall dorsal fin, and unique knob in the middle front edge of pectoral fins, and can reach up to 20 feet. These animals live in open and warm waters around the world, but the ones we see close to shore around the Hawaiian Islands are very special animals. They belong to the Hawaiian insular population, a small genetically isolate population. This population estimate is about 123 individuals and of those only 46 are capable of reproduction, female has a calving interval of about 7 years, and they have been declining for last 20 years due to anthropogenic causes such as bycatch in fishing gear; putting them in high risk of extinction. But fortunately National Marine Fisheries Service proposed to list the insular Hawaiian population under the Endangered Species Act (ESA).
I have been in charge of the Pacific Whale Foundation False Killer Whales Photo-identification catalog; and I have been working with photos taken in past years that haven’t been matched to the catalog, and also with new photos taken this year from the Research On Board (ROB) program. Ten individuals were added to the catalog only from photos taken Tuesday and from this year ROB program. The up-to-date catalog has 67 identified individuals. I am still working in matching the photos; there are about 730 photos to be matched. Photo-identification research is a non-invasive method that allows the recognition of individual animals and it can be used to estimate population size and track individual animal over time, researchers identify individual odontocete by their dorsal fin, each animal has unique pattern such as notches, nicks, and marks.
Luckily, we have encountered these animals a few times this year, but by far this was the best encounter! I got some good identification photos of the individual that swam really close to the boat, and I matched it to the catalog and turned out to be a new individual. It was named “MAKA KILO” which means “observant” in Hawaiian. All the false killer whales in our catalog have identification numbers and also Hawaiian names.
Aloha,
Itana
Bio:
Itana Freire Silva Image:
Bookmark/Search this post with:
Comments
I was very encouraged to find this site. I wanted to thank you for this special read. I definitely savored every little bit of it and I have you bookmarked to check out new stuff you post. car wraps Tampa
I was very encouraged to find this site. I wanted to thank you for this special read. I definitely savored every little bit of it and I have you bookmarked to check out new stuff you post. flatmate
Not many people would say this. You've got some guts. I will say this, though. If you don't want to alienate any readers, you're going to have to stop generalizing so much. Maybe you should try seeing both sides of this issue instead of assuming that yours is the only valid opinion.drilling
I haven’t any word to appreciate this post.... i think this is really a great thing about the fashion. Really I am impressed from this post. I am very happy to read this article. Thanks for giving us nice info. thesis paper
I enjoyed reading your articles. This is truly a great read for me. I have bookmarked it and I am looking forward to reading new articles.what is cloud hosting
This is good site to spent time on .I just stumbled upon your informative blog and wanted to say that I have really enjoyed reading your very well written blog posts. I will be your frequent visitor, that's for sure.
h kjdtgj tfuj ryujy tfuj ty
This looks absolutely perfect, Really its remarkable. You have some great content but are getting lots of none relevant comments here too. I really like in a site, very informative, no waste of time on reading.
This looks absolutely perfect, Really its remarkable. You have some great content but are getting lots of none relevant comments here too. I really like in a site, very informative, no waste of time on reading. flatshare
This one conference on the biology of marine mammals was greatest ever!Manitowoc ice machine|
Recruiters are almost always paid by the company that they were hired by. There is a type of recruiter known R2R London as the retained recruiter and they usually have some sort of exclusive deal with the company they are recruiting for. They usually have some sort of R2R Singapore compensation before the hiring and recruiting session.
I read a newspaper article that was evidence to me of a loss of hope on a grandeur scale. In Seattle, Washington there Dirty Messages is an apartment building at 1811 Eastlake. In order to be given a government financed apartment at 1811 Eastlake a person needs to be identified as one of the most Fb Messages ill of the alcoholics in Seattle, a revolving door drunk. Once in an apartment a resident is free to drink without restriction.
The most common with the upper body is a thin long-sleeved T-shirt, just like an academic style of work. If you feel the upper body style is too soft, with a tie in a timely manner, at once handsome. Temperature is further reduced, simply Phi a little jacket on the outside, the hippies wind spontaneously generated. Suspenders, is the quarterly popular style, but must be in the mix to bring out the characteristics of the autumn and winter compared with summer short style length of the suspenders winter just past the knee as well.
http://space.canoe.ca/hskycc/blog/
http://www.vibesconnect.com/hskycc/blog/
http://hskycc2.skyrock.com/
http://shikisuper.insanejournal.com/
http://hskycc2.posterous.com/
I am going through this post and thinking of it’s theme and trying to understand what is this post about. At last I can have found something from this post which feels pretty good. So I can not but am writing this comment to express my appreciation. flatmate can be another topics to help us in it’s relevant matters. So everybody is welcome.
Concrete pavers
Yaz Lawsuit
Hi There, I just spent a little time reading through your posts, which I found entirely by mistake whilst researching one of my projects. Please continue to write more because it’s unusual that someone has something interesting to say about this. Will be waiting for more!
I really liked your blog quite informative and interesting facts and figures you have discussed on your blog even the comments are very fruitful and helpful in enhancing the knowledge regarding the topic.Water damage Vancouver
Its not all women around Paris contains a Louis Vuitton Immediate 31, although the great vast majority with Paris, women needs to have then the longchamp le pliage! Design plus innovative design and style longchamp tote bag for all of our search, top quality longchamp internet, absolutely free transport with zero overtax.Genuinely for instance, no matter whether with regard to their private, if there's a simple serious want, plus if they currently have satisfactory economical total capacity, is a Paris women set out to invest in a longchamp handbags a traveling compel powering.Longchamp planetes, a pavements staffing your The pliage, the main variation is set plus program your colouring, as well as nylon is definitely plumper versus the The pliage extra crispy style, is definately not hence sagging.Longchamp Backpack Profit Internet, Have on-trend design and style because of this adaptable leather-trimmed backpack out of Longchamp Backpack.This site offers 2012 Traditional plus inexpensive Longchamp The Pliage Large Bags.lower price Longchamp shop for yourself!
It’s really a nice and useful piece of information. I am satisfied that you just shared this useful info with us. Please stay us informed like this. Thanks for sharing.investment capital management
Wow, what a nice Post written by you guys. It is amazing and wonderful to visit your site. Thanks a ton for such a nice post.
benefits of milk of magnesia pregnancy
The female delivers usually a single calf tail first to minimize the risk of drowning. Whale cows nurse by actively squirting milk, so fatty that it has the consistency of toothpaste, into the mouths of their young. Nursing continues for more than a year in many species, and is associated with a strong bond between mother and calf. Thanks.
Regards,
branded entertainment
I think this is one of the most beautiful scene indeed that I have ever seen. So I feel I need to visit the location soon. When I will try for visiting, I know there will be many problem. But I will ignore them all for sure.
This is a topic of my interest. I love reading through your blog, I wanted to leave a little comment to support you and wish you a good continuation. Wishing you the best of luck for all your blogging efforts stata help
I would like to read newer posts and to share my thoughts with you.
great site
Information like what you described here is going to be quite useful to me. I will post a link to this post on my site. I am sure my members will find that helpful.
This is really a good site with great information along with excellent post for all to view and comment on this site.The information present here is helpful for the readers.Overall wonderful site.
Thank you for this blog. That’s all I can say. You most definitely have made this blog into something that’s eyes opening and important. You clearly know so much about the subject, you’ve covered so many bases. Great stuff from this part of the internet. Again, thank you for this blog.costa rica family vacations
I have never have a whale watch trip in my life as sea is far away from my house. So as writer has shared this, i am very to share my pleasure through this comment. Best of luck. Otithi@lottery stories in US.
Very good post with informative information. I really appreciate the fact that you approach these topics from a stand point of knowledge and information. This is the first time,I am a speed up windows7 .I worked at Al's Plumbing, Locally owned and operated company. I visited at your site and became your fan. You are bookmarked. Please keep on posting.
I was amused by their name.. "false killer whales". They're so cute btw.
Forex Brokers
Very good post with informative information. I really appreciate the fact that you approach these topics from a stand point of knowledge and information. This is the first time,I am a Plummer.I worked at Al's Plumbing, Locally owned and operated company. I visited at your site and became your fan. You are bookmarked. Please keep on posting.
Oh my goodness! You're so right! I really don't think anyone's put it that way before! You must be an expert on this because you just made it so easy to understand, made me want to learn more about it!.flatshare London
Real good articles here mate, I will be back again as im learning so much about this topic lately and I just want to keep learning more and more. personal statement editing service
The reasoning is that they would be unlikely to tie up additional capital in fixed assets for several years or more, unless they thought it would be a commercially viable proposition in the longer term. If there is too much uncertainty about whether their fixed investment will pay off, they are unlikely to engage in it. compare hotel rate
The body shape is fusiform and the modified forelimbs, or fins, are paddle-shaped. The end of the tail is composed of two flukes, which propel the animal by vertical movement, as opposed to the horizontal movement of a fish tail. Thanks.
Regards,
online backup services
I'm happy when reading through your site with up-to-date information! thanks alot and hope that you'll publish more site that are based on this website.
Wow, this is great piece of information. I didn’t know that this is even possible. However, I would like to know is there some possibility that we can change links with each others? I have two blogs, one is Sims 3 cheats and the other is Skyrim walkthroughs. I can easily put your blog URL to my blogroll.
Oh almost forgot. I have one “house-hold” website as well. It’s more authority site. Just fill the contact in How to repair drywall or reply my post if you are interested : )! Laura.
xoxoxox
xoxoxox
xoxoxox
I am going through this post and thinking of it’s theme and trying to understand what is this post about. At last I can have found something from this post which feels pretty good. So I can not but am writing this comment to express my appreciation. room buddies can be another topics to help us in it’s relevant matters. So everybody is welcome.
. I didn’t know that this is even possible.
I think this is one of the most beautiful scene indeed that I have ever seen. So I feel I need to visit the location soon. When I will try for visiting, I know there will be many problem. But I will ignore them all for sure. hip hop music
i was searching for this type of blog.I am looking forward to more such accounting firm los angeles
Living in newport beach I love waking up to the marine animals every day. Just the other day I saw a school of dolphins. Behind 7 foot waves.
Cufflink
Sometimes we can't find original killer. Your posting that is written about false killer whales. It is so effective content. Grocery credit cards
The lungs of marine mammals are proportionately smaller than those of humans, but these animals use oxygen far more efficiently. Marine mammals possess increased amounts of hemoglobin in their blood, which makes for improved oxygen retention. Dolphins and whales quickly inhale oxygen through a blowhole as they surface and are also able to exchange 90 percent of the air they have inhaled, each time they exhale. Thanks a lot.
Personal statement writers
This looks absolutely perfect, Really its remarkable. You have some great content but are getting lots of none relevant comments here too. I really like in a site, very informative, no waste of time on reading. rent a room
what with your videos and lyrics. You've got a good punch one or two for a blog. You have an interesting way to draw people in, wall stickers
Nice information, many thanks to the author. It is incomprehensible to me now, but in general, the usefulness and significance is overwhelming. Thanks again and good luck.
dallas personal injury attorney
This looks absolutely perfect, Really its remarkable. You have some great content but are getting lots of none relevant comments here too. I really like in a site, very informative, no waste of time on reading. .rent a room
Fantastic line up. We’ll be linking to this fantastic post on our website. Sustain the great producing.
Adjust the rectifier settings as needed. Leave the target item in the electroplating solution until it is silver-plated. The time will depend on how thick you want the silver plating. Record the time and voltage for future reference. Thanks for sharing. Office Cleaning in Manchester
Post new comment