Mermaid Luna

OBI's 2023 T-Shirt Fundraiser: J-Pod Boy Band, Supporting Orca Behavior Institute Ever since our first year of operation, we've affectionately called the regular all-male aggregations of Southern Residents "boy bands". Our favorite one consists of these young males from J-Pod, captured in this custom artwork by Sara Hystong-Shimazu. In 2023, J-Pod also made quite a few visits to....

We're pleased to share this new publication on movements and social behavior of Brazilian orcas, co-authored by OBI research associate Heitor Crespo.

Utilizing 57 opportunistic observations across 16 years, this paper provides new insights on travel patterns, social associations, and diet of this little-known population of killer whales. These whales were observed eating rays, schooling fish, and marine mammals, providing further evidence that tropical orca populations may be more likely to be generalists than those who live in temperate regions.

You can read this open access paper in its entirety at the link below:
https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmars.2023.1206796/full

😢 Rest peacefully, Ken. And thank you, for all that you have done.

The family of Ken Balcomb has the solemn responsibility to inform all who knew or cared about Ken that he passed away this morning, 12/15/22. The illness that ended his remarkable journey through life was known to him and his family well in advance, and his last days and final breath were drawn in peace and comfort, with professional care, surrounded by his loving family, at the Center for Whale Research’s Big Salmon Ranch above the Elwha River.
We ask that if you are so moved, to perhaps light a candle or meditate on your remembrance of Ken, or your most memorable moments with the orcas he so loved and honored by devoting his
life to learning about and sharing his understanding with all of us; and to renew your commitment to take action for the salmon and orcas, to carry on his legacy.
Donations in his memory may be made to the Center for Whale Research, whaleresearch.com.
At this time the family asks for privacy, more information will follow when the time is appropriate.
Howard Garrett (brother)
Kelley Balcomb-Bartok (son)
Susan Berta (sister-in-law)

Back in the tank at in 2014 again, this time with a new friend! I made many new mer-friends that year, and this one is Mermaid Zatarah!

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A behind-the-scenes candid of that time Luna swam up to meet some very surprised campers during their summer camp in 2014 when they swam in the lake next to their campsite. 🏊🏕️

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It's a surreal experience to embody the mermaid that introduced you to mermaids. The Little Mermaid animated film is near and dear to my little aquatic heart.

2014
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A public gig that I did as Ariel in 2014. Fun fact: this was a few weeks after I was in a double rollover accident on the highway. We walked away completely uninjured! But I EXTRA don't like black ice, now, lol.

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And with the flip of a tail, we bid farewell to the 2013 season. It changed my life forever, which you'll see more of soon. 🙂

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Photo by Scott Ferguson

As you can see, I'm very concerned about being on dry land. Soon after, our mertenders explained to me that she was going to appear in the parade, and I was far less worried.

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Photo by Scott Ferguson

Weightless fluidity

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Photo by Scott Ferguson