Mar 20, 2019
3/18/19 - Transient orcas are returning to Monterey Bay! Young male OCT031B, also known as CA49B or “Richie,” was recently spotted.
Photo by Randy Straka
seen from Russia
seen from Brazil
seen from Canada
seen from United Kingdom
seen from United States
seen from United States
seen from Netherlands
seen from United States
seen from China
seen from T1
seen from China
seen from United States
seen from Germany
seen from United States
seen from Germany
seen from Malaysia
seen from China
seen from China
seen from Canada
seen from South Korea
3/18/19 - Transient orcas are returning to Monterey Bay! Young male OCT031B, also known as CA49B or “Richie,” was recently spotted.
Photo by Randy Straka
Can you explain a little more of individuals CA49B, CA49C, and CA50B ??? Are these 3 orphans and commonly join in with other pod like Emma’s pod and CA51As? It makes sense in that perspective for CA49B and CA50B since I know they’re males but for CA49C? THANK YOU SO MUCH!!! They’re so beautiful and mysterious to me. Love to know more about these guys!
Hey there! Great question!
CA49B Richie (above [x]) and CA49C are orphaned siblings (brother and sister respectively) - their mother CA49 disappeared I believe about a decade ago. CA49B tends to have looser traveling habits: he will travel alone, with his sister, with other adult males, and with other matrilines. CA49C travels full-time with the CA51A’s, Aurora’s pod.
CA50B (above [x]) is an adult orphaned male, and the only surviving offspring of CA50, who disappeared about 5-6 years ago. They were occasionally seen traveling with the CA140′s, Emma’s pod, as seen here:
(First photo [x] from left to right: CA140, CA50, CA50B. Second photo [x] from left to right: CA140B, CA50B, CA140, CA50)
While he occasionally travels alone or with other adult males like CA165, CA50B mostly travels full-time with CA51A Aurora’s pod. Aurora’s pod of five seems to do quite well together!
3/18/19 - Another look at CA49B Richie.
Photo by Blue Ocean Whale Watch
5/27/17 - Male CA49B
Photo by Princess Monterey Whale Watching
4/21/17 - Some of the individuals spotted at the gray whale kill again today. From first image to last: CA140 Emma and CA140D, CA27 and one of the calves, sprouting male CA140C, and CA49B (left) and CA20 (right).
Photos by Tim Zoliniak [x]
Gray Whale Predation in Monterey!
Predation alert! Approximately 20-30 orcas made a kill on a gray whale yesterday in Monterey Bay, and continue to feed on the carcass today! Matrilines and individuals include the CA27′s, CA140′s (with CA163), CA20′s pod (presumably with CA54, CA177, and their offspring), and CA49B. Pictures and confirmed IDs are pending.
Additionally, two humpback whales appeared yesterday and today in an attempt to disrupt the feeding, but the orcas were generally unperturbed.
Gray whale hunts are highly important in CA transient orca culture, as they not only serve as a food source for many whales but as a social event as well. Gray whale kills will feed multiple pods for several days, and mothers will use the opportunity to teach their calves valuable hunting skills. Kills also feed other ocean scavengers, and ultimately nourish the ocean floor as the carcass sinks.
Updates on the event can be found on Monterey Bay Whale Watch’s Facebook page.
8/26/18 - CA49B “Richie” in Monterey Bay. I’m so thrilled to know his nickname now!
Photo by Kate Cummings
10/3/2016 - CA49b
Photos by Daniel Bianchetta [x]