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Reposted by Center for Whale Research

Cell Press @cellpress.bsky.social · Jun 24

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

(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.

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Center for Whale Research @whaleresearch.bsky.social · Jun 23

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...

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Center for Whale Research @whaleresearch.bsky.social · Jun 8

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

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Center for Whale Research @whaleresearch.bsky.social · Jun 1

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

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Center for Whale Research @whaleresearch.bsky.social · Apr 18

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

Encounters Map 2025

www.whaleresearch.com

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Center for Whale Research @whaleresearch.bsky.social · Apr 18

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!

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Center for Whale Research @whaleresearch.bsky.social · Apr 11

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

Encounters Map 2025

www.whaleresearch.com

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Center for Whale Research @whaleresearch.bsky.social · Apr 11

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

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Center for Whale Research @whaleresearch.bsky.social · Apr 8

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.

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Center for Whale Research @whaleresearch.bsky.social · Apr 7

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

Encounters Map 2025

www.whaleresearch.com

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Center for Whale Research @whaleresearch.bsky.social · Apr 7

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!

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Reposted by Center for Whale Research

Darren Croft @darrencroft.bsky.social · Mar 26

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.

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Center for Whale Research @whaleresearch.bsky.social · Mar 28

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.

Darren Croft @darrencroft.bsky.social · Mar 26

🐳 UPCOMING BOOK ALERT 🐬
The Evolution of Cetacean Societies

Really enjoyed working on this project with a fantastic editorial team @andrewfoote.bsky.social @ellengarland.bsky.social @stephanielking.bsky.social

Preorder available now shorturl.at/Y58at out Jan2026

#whale #dolphin #animalbehaviour

The Evolution of Cetacean Societies

From leading cetacean biologists, an up-to-date, comprehensive collection exploring advancements in our understanding of cetacean ecology, behavior, and societies. Cetaceans—whales, dolphins, and po...

press.uchicago.edu

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Center for Whale Research @whaleresearch.bsky.social · Mar 28

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

Encounters Map 2025

www.whaleresearch.com

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Center for Whale Research @whaleresearch.bsky.social · Mar 28

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

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Center for Whale Research @whaleresearch.bsky.social · Mar 21

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

OSC Job Opportunity

www.whaleresearch.com

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Center for Whale Research @whaleresearch.bsky.social · Mar 21

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!

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Center for Whale Research @whaleresearch.bsky.social · Mar 12

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

Encounters Map 2025

www.whaleresearch.com

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Center for Whale Research @whaleresearch.bsky.social · Mar 12

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

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Center for Whale Research @whaleresearch.bsky.social · Mar 6

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

Encounters Map 2025

www.whaleresearch.com

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Center for Whale Research @whaleresearch.bsky.social · Mar 6

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!

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Center for Whale Research @whaleresearch.bsky.social · Feb 25

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

Encounters Map 2025

www.whaleresearch.com

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Center for Whale Research @whaleresearch.bsky.social · Feb 25

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

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Center for Whale Research @whaleresearch.bsky.social · Feb 20

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

Encounters Map 2025

www.whaleresearch.com

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Center for Whale Research @whaleresearch.bsky.social · Feb 20

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

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