Orca Strandings and Rare Events
Transient Orca Stranding and Rescue
Dungeness Spit, Jan. 2-4, 2002

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Dungeness Spit Stranding

Following his successful rescue, the male transient killer whale CA188 swims due west
directly out the Strait of Juan de Fuca, heading toward the Pacific Ocean and to freedom.
The Time-Depth Recorder (TDR) attached by suction-cup to the back of the whale (above)
stayed attached to the whale for nearly 3 days, providing researchers an amazing amount
of information about the animal's surfacing and dive patterns. According to Dr. Brad Hanson
(NWFSC) the TDR showed a "very consistent pattern of 2-2.5 minute dives to about 20-25
meters, followed by 7-11 short dives within a few meters of the surface ... traveling at a
consistent speed of 2-4 mph."

To view a sample of the graph collected from the TDR recovered from CA188,
visit ORCANETWORK

Photographs © The Center for Whale Research. All Rights Reserved.
Photo (above) by David Ellifrit.