The following is a timeline of news and updates published in 2023 regarding various killer whale populations, captive killer whales, strandings, births, deaths, transfers, rescues, etc. Information is added and updated when available. Significant death or birth events are labeled in the 'contents' tab for easier navigation.

April

April 10th:

SN0119 "Joker" from the west Iceland killer whale population has been sighted with a new calf. This is her first offspring and also confirms her sex, which had remained unknown until today.^[1]

March

March 30th:

It has been announced in a press conference held by the executive of Miami Seaquarium and the Miami county officials that the process to bring Sk'aliCh'elh-tenaut (also known as Tokitae or Lolita) back to her home waters has officially begun.^[2]

March 18th:

Members of K-Pod and L-Pod have been spotted in Monterey bay, California. The last time members of the Southern Resident killer whale population were spotted in Monterey was on March 31st, 2019.

March 9th, Kiska has died:

Marineland of Canada has announced the death of Kiska, their 47 year old female killer whale and sole surviving orca. Her health had been declining in the weeks leading up to her death. Marineland reports that she died of a bacterial infection. ^[3]

February

February 28th:

A new health and welfare assessment of Tokitae at the Miami Seaquarium is reported. It states that Tokitae's condition has remained relatively stable during the month of February. She has a good appetite and responding well to SDs but occasionally seemed uncomfortable. Her overall condition is good and stable and she continues to receive daily treatment. ^[4]

February 20th:

Orca Guardians Iceland has released an article highlighting their encounter with the pod of SN0540 "Sædís" in August 2021, who was observed travelling with a newborn long-finned pilot whale calf in echelon position. ^[5]

February 18th:

SN0049/IS304 "Empathy", a female killer whale from the Icelandic killer whale population, was observed with a newborn calf during an encounter earlier today.

February 14th:

A deceased female killer whale measuring around 6 meters in length was found washed ashore near the village of Hafnir on the Reykjanes peninsula in south Iceland. The female killer whale is believed to originate from the Icelandic killer whale population. Samples have been taken for further analysis but no obvious cause of death could be determined at this time. The whale could not be identified. ^[6]

February 1st:

The female killer whale that stranded off of the coast of Florida last month has been buried on the University of Florida campus in Gainesville where scientists will study her decomposition and its effects on the environment. Her skeleton will then be articulated and brought to the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History.^[7]

January

January 27th:

A killer whale has become stranded in shallow water off the coast of Andenes, Norway. The whale was assessed for any injuries or abnormal behaviors and was successfully re-floated after a few hours. ^[8]

January 13th:

Preliminary necropsy results from the female killer whale that stranded on a Florida beach on January 11th indicate that the whale was a geriatric animal with multiple diseases when she stranded. Further analysis will continue to determine her exact cause of death.^[9]

January 11th:

A female killer whale was spotted 25-30 feet offshore in Jungle Hut Park, Palm Coast Florida just after 6 a.m, but had stranded herself and died by the time officials got to the scene. The female is reported to be about 21.3ft in length and has no signs of physical trauma. Her body will be brought to SeaWorld Orlando to be necropsied. No cause of death has been determined at this time.^[10]

January 8th, Narnia has died:

The Mosvkarium has announced the passing of Narnia, their 17 year old wild-caught female killer whale. A necropsy has been carried out and her cause of death was revealed to be the result of acute intestinal volvulus. Her exact date of death has not yet been made official, though she likely passed away in December 2022 or in very early January of 2023. ^[11]

References