By Edward Johnson
(L86) and her daughter, Victoria (L112) by Hysazu
Researchers to Navies: Stop Using Sonar Near Puget Sound (switchboard.nrdc.org) There is no question L-112 is gone, a young female that eventually washed up on the Long Beach Peninsula of WA. Her life ahead may have lasted many decades beyond, only her traumatized remains can attest to what must have been a nightmarish end to her existence. The body of evidence will prove that her death was most probably caused by the sonar testing being conducted by the Canadian Navy. Both L & J Pod members were observed holding up in Discovery Bay which is located adjacent to the Straits of Juan De Fuca, an area in-which these pods had never before been observed using.This Bay would have provided protection from the Medium Frequency Acoustic waves that certainly reverberated back and forth across the Straits. It was no accident that these Pods had selected this particular location to hide. By looking at the Google map provided(http://maps.google.com/maps?near=%4048.114767,-122.766037&geocode=&q=discovery+bay&vps=1&f=li&hl=en&jsv=399b&sll=49.717376,-122.596436&sspn=2.486233,4.669189&vpsrc=6&ei=RUhYT6foCYmNigL73oXTBg), the small land mass directly North of the entrance to Discovery Bay would have provided sonar sound wave protection from HMCS Ottawa. The fact that the Canadian Naval vessel was located in Canadian waters and to the North-East of Discovery Bay would substantiate this contention. Further the extensive hydrophone system that has been used for years in this location to track specific identifiable sound patterns emitted by each whale, recorded some alarming communications. See http://www.orcasound.net/wp/2012/02/06/canadian-sonar-in-us-critical-habitat/ These unusual sounds ran concurrent with the naval training exercises. The above link which includes all elements of the entire sonar incident leave no question as to the responsibility for the Orca death. L-112 may have been, so to say, too young, at the wrong depth, at the wrong time, at the wrong location and suffered drastic damage to her own sensitive sonar system.
It is most exciting to include the following blog by Candace Calloway http://blog.seattlepi.com/candacewhiting/2012/03/07/dead-orca-l-112-is-beginning-to-reveal-the-story-of-her-death/ and the great opportunity extended to her by those conducting the necropsy. The anatomical pictures & labels associated with the newly defined echolocation system of a toothed whale are exactly what the public needs. In the past cetacean conservationists have been most suspicious of these nercopsies but having Candace Calloway Whiting as a witness, a person who is truly concerned about the welfare of dolphins and whales, is restoring some lost faith. Interesting to see the results of the necropsy reports and to what degree those assess the sinus system used by cetaceans to echo-locate.
“Southern Orca Resident Pod Member L-112 Hereby proclaims that the entire group of 19 known otherwise as Orcasphere, be recognized for a most commendable effort to notify both the Canadian and US. Government officials of their worthy petition. This petition clearly identifies the factors, events, location and ship involved in my untimely and traumatic death that I suffered on or about Feb 6, 2012. You, by opposing future sonar testing of MFA, have properly notified the powers to be, something that my fellow sea mates have long sought. Though it was long before my time, my mother L-86 has often taken me to the location of the horrific event in 2003 during which the USS Shoup conducted those sonar shattering MFA blasts. The assumption then, based on the deaths of our seal cousins, would see a future with no further sonar testing”. L-112 interpretation imaged by Edward Johnson
In final tribute the names of those signing that petition from Orcasphere are fully recognized. Brave and truth searching souls, one and all.
- David Bain, Ph.D
- Robin Baird, Research Biologist, Cascadia Research Collective
- Stefan Bråger, Research Director/Curator, The Whale Museum
- John Calambokidis, Research Biologist, Cascadia Research Collective
- Fred Felleman, Vice-President, Board of Directors, The Whale Museum
- Andrew Foote, Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
- Deborah Giles, MSc, PhD Candidate/Research Biologist, UC Davis
- Rachael Griffin, B.Sc. Marine Biology, Aquagreen Marine Research, Victoria, BC
- Erin Heydenreich, Field Biologist, Senior staff at the Center for Whale Research
- Cara Lachmuth, MSc., Contract Biologist, Victoria, BC
- Patrick Miller, Lecturer, School of Biology, University of St Andrews, Scotland
- Richard Osborne, Ph.D., Research Associate, The Whale Museum
- Paul Spong, Director, OrcaLab and Pacific Orca Society, Alert Bay, BC
- Helena Symonds, Director, OrcaLab and Pacific Orca Society, Alert Bay, BC
- Scott Veirs, President, Beam Reach Marine Science and Sustainability School
- Val Veirs, Professor of Physics, Colorado College
- Monika Wieland, BA in Biology, Reed College
- Jason Wood, Ph.D., Research Associate, The Whale Museum
- Harald Yurk, Research Associate, Vancouver Aquarium
Note the following story appeared in the Victory, B.C. paper on Feb. 11th just to show that on that day they still hung to the, “not responsible line,” little wonder we the people lack confidence in military explanations. http://www.timescolonist.com/life/fashionshows/paris/Sonar+endanger+mammals+navy+insists/6138281/story.html?id=6138281
Related articles
- Canadian Navy says it used sonar during training (seattletimes.nwsource.com)
- Hydrophones pick up sonar pings in WA waters (seattletimes.nwsource.com)
- Researchers to Navies: Stop Using Sonar Near Puget Sound (switchboard.nrdc.org)
- Dead endangered orca found at Long Beach (seattletimes.nwsource.com)
So sorry of the loss of L-112, a young Orca, who was at the wrong place at the wrong time. Navy must take responsibility for death of this Orca and perhaps others because of the testing of Super Sonar. What is the point of deeming Pudget Sound Orcas a protected species only to then kill them with the covert methods which were used? When will the military stop using marine mammals to test their weapons and weapon-grade communications and search devices? This is not acceptable to continue harming these animals.
Heather, thank you so much of course I, we totally agree with your assessment. I do like what this group, Orcasphere has done by submitting this petition to the various responsible parties in D.C and Canada. What we both need to do is follow-up their petition with submitting our support to the same parties. Honestly I need to practice what I preach and would like to know if you have done the same or are planning to do so. Hey, super sonar, what do you know about this source? I had a conversation with a dolphin trainer turned opponet of sonar, who told me about the latest technology which pretty much makes MFAS rather obsolete. Ed from Kirsten’s fb account