Apparent death of 47-year-old orca matriarch could have serious effects on pod, scientists fear

Scientists are reporting another challenge to the critically endangered southern resident killer whales in the waters off British Columbia, Washington state and Oregon.

A statement from the Center for Whale Research in Washington says a 47-year-old female identified as L47 has not been seen for nearly seven months and is likely dead.

The centre says its teams have spotted the matriarch’s three surviving offspring and their two calves several times since L47 was last seen off B.C.’s Salt Spring Island in February, but the elder killer whale was not with them.

L47’s apparent death, along with the confirmed death in July of a