Center for Whale Research staff aid efforts
of scientists attempting to determine health
of Southern Resident's by sampling 'blows'
photo by Dave Ellifrit. This photo was taken under MMPA permit #532-1822.
Sprouting male L89 and adult male L41 in choppy water near Hein Bank Sept. 28, 2007.
photo by Dave Ellifrit. This photo was taken under MMPA permit #532-1822.
The breath of young adult male 79 drifts across several open petri dishes on the end of a pole. Scientists hope to collect killer whale breath samples in the petri dishes to determine the health of the Southern Resident Killer whales.
photo by Dave Ellifrit. This photo was taken under MMPA permit #532-1822.
L79's warm exhaled breath drifts in a very visible cloud directly above and to the left of the rising young male whale.
photo by Dave Ellifrit. This photo was taken under MMPA permit #532-1822.
L41 is partially obscured behind his exhaled blow.
Encounter #069-1
Sept. 28, 2007
J, K and L pods
Platform: Shelmar
Observers: Dave Ellifrit, Captain Bob Wood (Global Research and Rescue), DVM Pete Schroeder (Marine Mammal Research Associates), and Dr. Erin Zadek (British Columbia Ministry of Agriculture and Lands).
Dr. Zadek was aboard representing Dr. Stephen Raverty of the Animal Health Center, British Columbia Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Fisheries.
Senior staff-member Dave Ellifrit was an invited guest Sept. 28, 2007, aboard Bob Wood's fine vessel "Shelmar" to observe a unique breath-sampling technique using petri dishes that are extended over an exhaling killer whale with a long extendable pole. Dave was also aboard to assist the scientists with the identification of individual Southern Resident Killer whales being sampled. The breath samples will be analyzed to determine the health of individual whales sampled.
