Center for Whale Research

(A) Fashioning kelp stipes for allokelping. (Left) J41 grasps a kelp stalk by the holdfast end and (right) detaches a short segment. (B) J19 and J51 allokelping with the kelp stipe visible between them (inset). (C) J56 exhibiting an S-pose while allokelping with J57 (inverted). (D) J pod allokelping network. Nodes (circles/squares) represent individuals, while edge (lines) thickness indicates the observed rate of allokelping. Grey polygons demarcate matrilines. Node size indicates age, shape indicates sex, and color indicates relative level of skin molting as indicated in the legend. Aerial images collected under NMFS research permit 27038.

Pod of killer whales uses #kelp as tools to groom each other 🐋🌿 www.cell.com/current-biol...

@whaleresearch.bsky.social Michael Weiss
@currentbiology.bsky.social

Big news!

Our latest paper, “Manufacture and use of allogrooming tools by wild killer whales” has been published in “Current Biology”.

This is the first known evidence of a marine mammal making tools out of objects in their environment.

Explore more here: www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...

Today is #WorldOceansDay— On this day, we would like to celebrate the incredible work being done by countless individuals and organizations worldwide to protect, preserve, and restore the oceans.

Happy World Oceans Day!

Artwork by CWR's Katie Jones
#OrcaActionMonth #OrcaActionMonth2025

June is Orca Action Month!

On our socials, we will be participating in the 2025 theme: “Threads of Life: Connecting Orcas, People, and the Future We Share.”

We look forward to joining together to take action for orcas during this month!

#orcaactionmonth

Link to our encounters map: www.whaleresearch.com/encounters

Another encounter on Apr 11, 2025 with members of both J and K pod is up on our encounters map! We were able to document J40 with the newest calf J63, as well as other active whales like J45 and J31!

Link to our 2025 encounters map: www.whaleresearch.com/encounters

Our first encounter with the newest calf in the SRKW population J63 is up! We also documented all members of both J pod and K pod, as well as the other young calf J62!

#killerwhale #srkwpopulation #whaleresearch #centerforwhaleresearch

We have some incredibly exciting news to share! J Pod has a new calf! Designated J63, we observed this little one traveling with J40. This will be her first known calf! While we have no immediate health concerns at the moment, we’ll continue to update when we can.

Link to our 2025 Encounters Map: www.whaleresearch.com/encounters

Our first K Pod encounter of the year just happened on March 30! Earlier in the month, K Pod had been seen in Monterey Bay, CA and made their way back to the Salish Sea in ~11 days! That’s roughly 1000 miles in under two weeks!

The cover image is provided by @whaleresearch.bsky.social and features J-pod swimming off the west side of San Juan Island (WA, USA) - a special thanks to @drwhale.bsky.social (CWR Research Director and chapter author) for capturing the original video from which this still was taken.

Our Executive Director @darrencroft.bsky.social and Research Director @drwhale.bsky.social are among the contributing authors of this incredible upcoming book! Not only that but the cover image was captured by CWR and features members of J Pod! Available for preorder now! Set to release Jan 2026.

Link to our Encounters Map: www.whaleresearch.com/encounters

Our 13th encounter of the year is up! We were able to photograph and document all 26 members of J Pod including newest member J62.

#whaleresearch #centerforwhaleresearch #srkws

Check out our website for more details about the position and qualification requirements! www.whaleresearch.com/osc-job-oppo...

The Center for Whale Research (CWR) is seeking part-time, seasonal education staff to join our team and assist with the daily operations of our ORCA SURVEY Outreach & Education Center in beautiful, vibrant Friday Harbor, San Juan Island for Summer 2025! Link for more info below!

Link to our Encounters Map: www.whaleresearch.com/encounters

We had an early morning encounter with J Pod as they traveled North up Haro Strait on March 6, 2025. The whales were spread but we managed to locate everyone.

#whaleresearch #centerforwhaleresearch #srkw #killerwhale #endangeredspecies

Link to our encounters map: www.whaleresearch.com/encounters

Two new encounters with Biggs killer whales are up on our encounters map from Feb 27, 2025. We spent some time with three of the T46 siblings as they hunted a porpoise. We heard that their brother T46D was separated from them but was not too far away so we went to collect photo ID’s of him as well!

Link to our interactive encounters map www.whaleresearch.com/encounters

Our 8th encounter of the year was with J pod along the west side of San Juan Island as they traveled all together in a single group on Feb 17, 2025. We were able to make several drone flights for behavioral data observations.

#centerforwhaleresearch #whaleresearch #killerwhales #salishsea

Link to our interactive encounters map! www.whaleresearch.com/encounters

Check out these amazing photos of J35 and her son J47 from our latest encounter with J Pod as they porpoised west into big waves on Feb 15, 2025! Encounter 7 is up on our interactive encounters map! Link below!

#centerforwhaleresearch #whaleresearch #killerwhales #southernresidentkillerwhales

Encounter 6 - Feb 8, 2025 www.whaleresearch.com/encounters

We got out with J Pod for our 6th encounter of the year! We were able to confirm that J62 is female and document all 26 members! We were also able to confirm that J35 is no longer carrying the carcass of J61. Check out the encounter and more photos at the link below.

DONATION | Center for Whale Research Support our cause by making a donation today and help us make a difference.

If you want to continue sharing the love, consider donating to support our ongoing research and advocacy for the endangered Southern Resident killer whale population

whaleresearch.givevirtuous.org/donate/suppo...

Whale Love Stories We asked CWR Members and supporters to share a short story about a special whale, encounter, or friendship that developed from a shared passion for whales. We are very grateful to those who shared the...

www.whaleresearch.com/post/whale-l...

To all the whale lovers out there, Happy Valentine's Day from the CWR!

We posted a blog titled "Whale Love Stories" which includes short stories from CWR members and supports. It can be found at the link below. Share your love of whales by commenting your favorite whale, encounter or memory!