According to whale researchers, killer whales known as exotic or outer-coastal orcas that were rarely seen in the Pacific Northwest have been seen in big numbers this fall in Washington State's inland waters and British Columbia.

According to the Seattle Times, the outer-coastal orcas eat other mammals and have been spotted mostly close to Vancouver Island, B. C., and the Strait of Juan de Fuca.

"The exotics have not been spotted in Puget Sound, where the resident orcas are mainly salmon-eaters", the Times reported.

Wildlife biologist Brad Hanson said the whales could be there because they have had a population boom or there is possibility that they could be chasing a boom in the population of 'seals and sea lions the whales prey upon'.

According to Hanson, the salmon-eating orcas are usually found in the region and do not interbreed with the exotics. The exotics do not pose a risk to the resident whales but the population of resident orcas has decreased for other reasons.

Mark Malleson, of the Victoria-based Prince of Whales Whale Watching, told the Times that he has seen the outer-coastal orcas five times since September. It has more than he has ever seen in his 18 years in the business.

Hanson said that they are not aware that what's drawing the animals in. They even don't know about the movement of these whales on the outer coast.

Malleson carried out whale surveys for the Canadian government and he knows most of the local orcas by seen. He also knows some of the transients who frequently cruise through the region, so he rapidly recognized the strangers. While transient whales are growing off the coast, Puget Sound's resident orcas continue to decrease.

Ken Balcomb, of the Center for Whale Research on San Juan Island, said that this year's census of 78 animals is the lowest in 30 years.

From: http://frenchtribune.com/