daniela maldini, ph.d. director of research pacific whale foundation
TRANSCRIPT
Daniela Maldini, Ph.D.Daniela Maldini, Ph.D.
Director of ResearchDirector of Research
Pacific Whale FoundationPacific Whale Foundation
False killer whalePseudorca crassidens
Length: 11.5 – 19.5 ft (females up to 15 ft)Weight: avg. 1,500 lbGestation: 14-16 monthsLactation: 1.5-2 yearsCalving intervals: 7 yrsLife span: male 58 yrs, female 63 yrs
Why is it called False Killer Whale?
7U-12L
10U-12L
Close Relatives in HawaiiPygmy Killer Whales (Feresa attenuata)Melon Headed Whales (Peponocephala elctra)
Pygmy killer whale
Melon-headed whale
9 ft – 365 lbs
8 ft – 350 lbs
Worldwide DistributionFalse Killer Whales
Hawaiian Populations•“Pelagic” – offshore•“Insular” – island-associated
•estimated at only 123 animals• effective population size only is 46
• Insular population declined from 1989 to 2010• from 3rd common species in Hawaii• to 9th common species in Hawaii
Aerial survey data from Dr. Joe Mobley, UH
Movements and Habitat Use
Baird et al. 2010. Movements and habitat use of satellite-tagged false killer whales around the main Hawaiian Islands. Endangered Species Research 10: 107-121.
• Applied satellite tags to 3 groups of insular and one group (1 ind.) of pelagic Pseudoorca;
• Groups from insular population regularly moved between leeward and windward side of the islands;
• Some individuals moved extensively and rapidly among islands;• Others remained associated with the island of Hawaii for longer periods;• Individuals within groups associated and dissassociated over periods of days
sometimes moving >100km apart;• The pelagic individual came within 62km of land (inshore of the longline fishery
exclusion boundary);• Insular groups stayed <100km from shore.
• Distance from shore cannot be used as a strict boundary between populations• Individuals from insular population may overlap with longline fisheries
Social Structure
Food Sharing
Mass Strandings
Threats
•Hunted in West Indies and Indonesia •Some killed every year in Japan –
•THE COVE – Iki Island•900 killed between 1965-1990
•Long-line fisheries in Hawaii•Persistent organic pollutants (e.g. PCBs, PBDEs)•Reduction in prey size•Deliberate shooting
•Hawaii-based long-line fishery id the only fishery with an observer program•20% coverge in the deep-set tuna fishery
•False killer whale bycatch exceeded “sustainable levels” since at least 1999•Jan 2010- NMFS formed a Take Reduction Team
•Draft of Take Reduction Plan•Mandatory Circle Hooks•Weak Hooks•Year-round closure of area around main Hawaiian Islands
Measures Being ConsideredIn Hawaii
PACIFIC WHALE FOUNDATIONPACIFIC WHALE FOUNDATION
