January 22, 2022: L Pod- Haro Strait
L83 Moonlight and L122 Magic
L25 Ocean Sun, L72 Racer, and L105 Fluke
L115 Mystic and L121 Windsong
L105 Fluke and L85 Mystery
L116 Finn, L22 Spirit, L82 Kasatka, L77 Matia
L55 Nugget and L109 Takoda
NOTES: L90 Ballena is surfacing with a bow-backed, stiff way, which CWR has begun to notice as when she is presumed to be pregnant. This is her fourth potential, and at 29 years old, she has never been seen with a living calf, likely due to her smaller size. “ L90 currently has the sway-backed look she has had in the past when we have suspected her to be pregnant. “
L89 Solstice is Missing “ The L54s and L88 were not present during this encounter. Everybody else in L pod was photographed by the end of the day with the exception of L89. Our friend and colleague Jared Towers had had the L12s up off northern Vancouver Island in front of Alert Bay on January 13th and L89 had not been present then either. L89 was last seen on November 5th, 2021 and he looked normal at that time. This is worrisome but we will continue looking for L89 until the rest of the southern residents are thoroughly documented in 2022. “
Photo Credit to the Center for Whale Research Encounter #6 - Jan 22, 2022