San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance (SDZWA) is part of a multi-partner effort to conserve Southern Resident Killer Whales, led by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA). There are less than 75 Southern Resident Killer Whales remaining in their native waters, meaning that very limited data about the health of these animals has been collected.
Using innovative technology, SDZWA and our partners are gaining unprecedented insights into Killer Whale health and well-being. To avoid disturbing the Southern Residents, our team collects Orca breath, as it can be sampled non-invasively and provides a snapshot of every individual’s health.
Specially made drones are used to locate the killer whales and fly through breath plumes to collect breath droplets on Petri dishes, all while remaining at a comfortable distance. The samples are then sent to a laboratory run by the UC Davis SeaDoc Society for further processing and analysis.
Trials are also conducted using thermal infrared cameras mounted on drones to measure the internal body temperature of Killer Whales.
Through these new technologies and methods, we can regularly gather and analyze comprehensive data about Killer Whales, which will help organizations like NOAA and local partners better understand their health.
