Emma Luck
@emmaluck22.bsky.social
Master of Marine Policy, BSc Marine Biology 🌊 📝
Working in marine policy and marine mammal science. I like whales 🐋
📍 Alaska
Working in marine policy and marine mammal science. I like whales 🐋
📍 Alaska
And some terrestrial Costa Rican wildlife!
Seeing a resplendent quetzal was AMAZING—they live only in cloud forests in parts of southern Mexico and Central America and can be difficult to spot! Certainly the most exquisite bird I’ve ever seen.
The sloths and toucans are incredible too! 🦥
Seeing a resplendent quetzal was AMAZING—they live only in cloud forests in parts of southern Mexico and Central America and can be difficult to spot! Certainly the most exquisite bird I’ve ever seen.
The sloths and toucans are incredible too! 🦥
January 8, 2026 at 11:00 PM
And some terrestrial Costa Rican wildlife!
Seeing a resplendent quetzal was AMAZING—they live only in cloud forests in parts of southern Mexico and Central America and can be difficult to spot! Certainly the most exquisite bird I’ve ever seen.
The sloths and toucans are incredible too! 🦥
Seeing a resplendent quetzal was AMAZING—they live only in cloud forests in parts of southern Mexico and Central America and can be difficult to spot! Certainly the most exquisite bird I’ve ever seen.
The sloths and toucans are incredible too! 🦥
Starting off 2026 with new cetaceans! I am in Costa Rica and saw my first false killer whales a few days ago off the coast of Uvita 🇨🇷
January 8, 2026 at 10:52 PM
Starting off 2026 with new cetaceans! I am in Costa Rica and saw my first false killer whales a few days ago off the coast of Uvita 🇨🇷
A good example can be found in CA216C1 “Frosty,” a Bigg’s killer whale with pale coloration (over time, this calf turned white with certain areas of black). Its patches were completely white at birth, no hint of orange anywhere…
Photo: Alisa Schulman-Janiger
www.facebook.com/share/1EpDTZ...
Photo: Alisa Schulman-Janiger
www.facebook.com/share/1EpDTZ...
December 7, 2025 at 11:24 PM
A good example can be found in CA216C1 “Frosty,” a Bigg’s killer whale with pale coloration (over time, this calf turned white with certain areas of black). Its patches were completely white at birth, no hint of orange anywhere…
Photo: Alisa Schulman-Janiger
www.facebook.com/share/1EpDTZ...
Photo: Alisa Schulman-Janiger
www.facebook.com/share/1EpDTZ...
A killer whale undergoes many changes in its first year of life!
They emerge after an 18-month gestation period, pencil-thin and completely toothless. Their tiny bodies are wrinkled from spending more than a year curled up in the uterus. Newborn calves are also distinct due to their peachy hue.
They emerge after an 18-month gestation period, pencil-thin and completely toothless. Their tiny bodies are wrinkled from spending more than a year curled up in the uterus. Newborn calves are also distinct due to their peachy hue.
December 7, 2025 at 11:24 PM
A killer whale undergoes many changes in its first year of life!
They emerge after an 18-month gestation period, pencil-thin and completely toothless. Their tiny bodies are wrinkled from spending more than a year curled up in the uterus. Newborn calves are also distinct due to their peachy hue.
They emerge after an 18-month gestation period, pencil-thin and completely toothless. Their tiny bodies are wrinkled from spending more than a year curled up in the uterus. Newborn calves are also distinct due to their peachy hue.
I am pleased to share our new review paper detailing killer whale interactions with commercial fisheries in Frontiers in Marine Science!
www.frontiersin.org/journals/mar...
www.frontiersin.org/journals/mar...
September 26, 2025 at 5:56 PM
I am pleased to share our new review paper detailing killer whale interactions with commercial fisheries in Frontiers in Marine Science!
www.frontiersin.org/journals/mar...
www.frontiersin.org/journals/mar...
Every now and then I catch my cat Sushi staring at photos of killer whales with remarkable intensity…
They do say pets take after their owners!
They do say pets take after their owners!
August 4, 2025 at 4:28 AM
Every now and then I catch my cat Sushi staring at photos of killer whales with remarkable intensity…
They do say pets take after their owners!
They do say pets take after their owners!
Last weekend was a delight—I observed my first bubble net feeding humpback whales and got to see the AD8s and AJs! (Resident pods of killer whales)
July 17, 2025 at 8:41 PM
Last weekend was a delight—I observed my first bubble net feeding humpback whales and got to see the AD8s and AJs! (Resident pods of killer whales)
A recent piece I made describing 4 different stocks/populations of resident killer whales found in the North Pacific Ocean! ⬇️
July 9, 2025 at 9:44 PM
A recent piece I made describing 4 different stocks/populations of resident killer whales found in the North Pacific Ocean! ⬇️
Yesterday I had some great encounters with killer whales! We saw the AT1 transients (Bigg’s) in the morning, and then found the AK6 matriline (residents) later in the afternoon. My first time seeing two killer whale subspecies in the same day!
June 23, 2025 at 11:00 PM
Yesterday I had some great encounters with killer whales! We saw the AT1 transients (Bigg’s) in the morning, and then found the AK6 matriline (residents) later in the afternoon. My first time seeing two killer whale subspecies in the same day!
My trip to Japan was a dream—northeastern Hokkaido is one of the most beautiful places I have ever been to.
June 9, 2025 at 2:43 AM
My trip to Japan was a dream—northeastern Hokkaido is one of the most beautiful places I have ever been to.
Japan’s Shiretoko Peninsula is every bit as magical as I hoped it would be. Here are some resident killer whales we saw yesterday in Nemuro Strait!
May 28, 2025 at 11:59 PM
Japan’s Shiretoko Peninsula is every bit as magical as I hoped it would be. Here are some resident killer whales we saw yesterday in Nemuro Strait!
Hello from Japan! 🇯🇵 Day 1 highlights included a visit to the Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology. They have a fully articulated western gray whale and a North Pacific right whale, as well as various other skeletons and specimens.
May 19, 2025 at 6:02 PM
Hello from Japan! 🇯🇵 Day 1 highlights included a visit to the Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology. They have a fully articulated western gray whale and a North Pacific right whale, as well as various other skeletons and specimens.
Last night, while driving along Turnagain Arm after an unsuccessful whale watching trip in Seward, I happened to glance over and saw a GRAY WHALE next to the road!
I pulled over and watched it for about an hour. Gray whales are uncommon in upper Cook Inlet.
I pulled over and watched it for about an hour. Gray whales are uncommon in upper Cook Inlet.
May 11, 2025 at 8:03 PM
Last night, while driving along Turnagain Arm after an unsuccessful whale watching trip in Seward, I happened to glance over and saw a GRAY WHALE next to the road!
I pulled over and watched it for about an hour. Gray whales are uncommon in upper Cook Inlet.
I pulled over and watched it for about an hour. Gray whales are uncommon in upper Cook Inlet.
Master of Marine Policy: ✅
Onto the next adventure!
🌿🌊🐟🐋
Onto the next adventure!
🌿🌊🐟🐋
May 4, 2025 at 3:35 AM
Master of Marine Policy: ✅
Onto the next adventure!
🌿🌊🐟🐋
Onto the next adventure!
🌿🌊🐟🐋
You can view all of the infographics on the council website. I’ve included my favorite one here—killer whale related, of course 😉
April 25, 2025 at 12:13 AM
You can view all of the infographics on the council website. I’ve included my favorite one here—killer whale related, of course 😉
For my 28th birthday today, I spent the afternoon in Kenai Fjords National Park with some of my favorite critters 🐋⭐️🦭
April 23, 2025 at 6:10 AM
For my 28th birthday today, I spent the afternoon in Kenai Fjords National Park with some of my favorite critters 🐋⭐️🦭
A bucket list whale sighting for me today—killer whales in Turnagain Arm, just outside of Anchorage!
While belugas are frequently seen in upper Cook Inlet, killer whales are NOT. They are seen once every few years or so and generally do not stick around long.
While belugas are frequently seen in upper Cook Inlet, killer whales are NOT. They are seen once every few years or so and generally do not stick around long.
March 15, 2025 at 11:38 PM
A bucket list whale sighting for me today—killer whales in Turnagain Arm, just outside of Anchorage!
While belugas are frequently seen in upper Cook Inlet, killer whales are NOT. They are seen once every few years or so and generally do not stick around long.
While belugas are frequently seen in upper Cook Inlet, killer whales are NOT. They are seen once every few years or so and generally do not stick around long.
Typing up my silly little whale manuscript as if the federal government isn’t actively going off the rails
February 13, 2025 at 1:49 AM
Typing up my silly little whale manuscript as if the federal government isn’t actively going off the rails
Miso says hello and wishes you all a good weekend (despite The Horrors)
February 8, 2025 at 9:31 PM
Miso says hello and wishes you all a good weekend (despite The Horrors)
Our poor Sushi got diagnosed with feline asthma last week—she’s not a fan of the inhaler. If anybody has advice or experience with asthmatic cats, I’m all ears!
February 5, 2025 at 5:55 AM
Our poor Sushi got diagnosed with feline asthma last week—she’s not a fan of the inhaler. If anybody has advice or experience with asthmatic cats, I’m all ears!
A fascinating new study from a great team of scientists, including @bellareeves.bsky.social and @meyer-sci.bsky.social!
They isolated killer whale DNA from the wounds of dead white shark that washed up in Australia without its liver:
doi.org/10.1002/ece3...
They isolated killer whale DNA from the wounds of dead white shark that washed up in Australia without its liver:
doi.org/10.1002/ece3...
January 28, 2025 at 4:23 AM
A fascinating new study from a great team of scientists, including @bellareeves.bsky.social and @meyer-sci.bsky.social!
They isolated killer whale DNA from the wounds of dead white shark that washed up in Australia without its liver:
doi.org/10.1002/ece3...
They isolated killer whale DNA from the wounds of dead white shark that washed up in Australia without its liver:
doi.org/10.1002/ece3...
Did you know? When killer whales depredate from longlines, they tend to be selective—they often pick certain species while leaving others, even if on the same line.
For example, in New
Zealand, killer whales take school sharks and bluenose off longlines, but not hāpuku (Visser, 2000).
For example, in New
Zealand, killer whales take school sharks and bluenose off longlines, but not hāpuku (Visser, 2000).
January 25, 2025 at 4:30 AM
Did you know? When killer whales depredate from longlines, they tend to be selective—they often pick certain species while leaving others, even if on the same line.
For example, in New
Zealand, killer whales take school sharks and bluenose off longlines, but not hāpuku (Visser, 2000).
For example, in New
Zealand, killer whales take school sharks and bluenose off longlines, but not hāpuku (Visser, 2000).
Individuals within a pod are then given a number, usually the order in which they are born or identified.
For example, the whale below is AD22, the 22nd whale to be identified within his pod.
For example, the whale below is AD22, the 22nd whale to be identified within his pod.
January 22, 2025 at 3:59 AM
Individuals within a pod are then given a number, usually the order in which they are born or identified.
For example, the whale below is AD22, the 22nd whale to be identified within his pod.
For example, the whale below is AD22, the 22nd whale to be identified within his pod.
Hi new followers! I love creating illustrations and infographics to share information, especially when it comes to killer whales. Here is a recent one I made covering killer whales of the Gulf
of Mexico (and that’s the only name I’ll ever call it 😉)
of Mexico (and that’s the only name I’ll ever call it 😉)
January 21, 2025 at 11:59 PM
Hi new followers! I love creating illustrations and infographics to share information, especially when it comes to killer whales. Here is a recent one I made covering killer whales of the Gulf
of Mexico (and that’s the only name I’ll ever call it 😉)
of Mexico (and that’s the only name I’ll ever call it 😉)