Abstract

Southern resident killer whales (SRKWs) are small population of endangered salmon-eating killer whales. Since being federally listed as 'endangered' this population has failed to show signs of recovery and still numbers around 80. Biologists conducting photo ID work often note skin lesions in SRKWs, however the significance of skin disease as an indicator of individual health is unknown. In endangered North Atlantic right whales, bottlenose dolphins, Guiana dolphins, minke whales, and other cetacean species, skin disease has been reported as a putative indicator of health. Without attempting to identify etiology, we evaluated thousands of photographs collected by the Center for Whale Research for photo-identification population monitoring from 2004 through 2016 for evidence of skin disease. During the study period, 141 whales were alive for some portion of the study. Of those 125 animals had photographic evidence of skin lesions. The various morphologic presentations of these lesions as well as their association with age, sex, pod, and matriline will be discussed.

* Presenting author