3 killer whales lost from endangered population: census [Video]

A census of endangered southern resident killer whales off the coast of British Columbia and Washington state shows the pods have lost three animals, bringing the population to 73, excluding a new calf born after the survey.

The Centre for Whale Research completed its 49th census as part of its Orca Survey program in July, finding the three pods had lost two adult males.

The population also lost a male calf, the only whale born within the census period.

The Washington-based centre says its researchers last saw one of the lost adult males in July 2023, and the animal appeared to be in “poor body condition” at the time.

It says the whale had not been seen since then, and the researchers had considered the animal to be at high risk after his mother died in 2017.

A statement from the centre on Wednesday says its research “clearly shows that …