Southern resident orca pod in best condition in decade

SEATTLE — (AP) - There is some cause for cautious optimism for the southern resident killer whales that frequent Puget Sound.

Oregon State University professor John Durban told The Seattle Times that in general over the last several years J pod is in better condition than in much of the last decade.

>> 56 orcas, including rare white one, spotted in Salish Sea over weekend

Durban is also a research associate with an orca health monitoring project led by Holly Fearnbach of SR3, a science and research and marine mammal rescue nonprofit.

Using a drone flown high above the whales, they take photographs to document the orcas’ body condition.

>> New tool could help track health, safety of Southern Resident orcas

And lately, what they are seeing in J pod generally is improvement.

Durban says there’s hope in the images, but it’s fragile.

Cox Media Group