EPIC Killer Whale encounter at Lime Kiln State Park 6/3/14 Jpod and the L12's

WOW! What an epic day watching Killer Whales from shore at Lime Kiln State Park. Small group from J Pod headed north, then turned back south to go get their friends from L Pod (The L12's not all of Lpod was there)! Then then came back past us all. As soon as they got north, then turned again back south, only to flip again and come back one final time. WHAT. A. DAY!
These are Southern Resident Killer Whales that frequent the Salish Sea are of the San Juan Islands in Washington State. Members of this very group were the first to be taken captive and stolen from their families for Seaworld. This group is an endangered group of animals, and face a variety of man made threats. Their number one concern is lack of food. In the case of the Southern Resident Killer Whales, that is Chinook Salmon. Salmon have their own issues they face. Dams distrupt what a river is and changes the entire ecology of a river and salmon runs fail. Farmed Salmon will hurt wild populations of salmon through anti-biotics, and transmission of disease and parasites to wild salmon. The live capture era removed about 50 individuals from the southern residents and that caused there to be a gap in breeding age animals. There are also concerns about military sonar use. Toxin and pollutions, as the Killer Whales here are the most toxic in the world. We also have threats of oil tanker spills with the increasing to desire to transport coal and oil through a sensitive marine ecosystem.
I used to want to work at Seaworld, but after being educated with captive animals and wildlife, and working professionally with animals. I've come to only one conclusion. Killer Whales do not do well and therefore do not belong in tanks. This is their home, and this is where I must be if I want to be near them. I have done that, and never looked back. These animals have rich complex lives and have lifetime relationships. Their world is sound of the ocean, and good family and friends. They play when they want. Eat when they want. Choose to intimately interact with other orca that they choose. They choose when they want to have their own children under the guidance of their mothers, and sisters, and brothers, uncles, aunts, grandmotheres, great grand-mothers, great-great grandmothers... You get the idea. They are family. They have generational history in their orca culture. The marine parks take this all away. Everything about an orca in a tank is unnatural and downright cruel.
This is indisputable on all levels. #captivitykills
Please watch "Blackfish" if you have an opportunity and read "Death at Seaworld".
Links:
whaleresearch.com
whalemuseum.org
orcasound.net
To see more of my photos and video follow me on Facebook at
traciwalterphotography
twitter: teeeldubya

[@Momobrock]

Absolutely LOVE that this film was taken ONSHORE with no boat noise intrusion!

[@valeriering5294]

We Share your passion here in Portland, Oregon. Keep up this important work!

[@rosedegennaro5408]

One of the best, most inspiration video's shot EVER!!! Thank you so much for sharing! In a time such as this when we fight for their very freedom, it brings me to tears of joy to see them free! As they should be!!

[@iiopalii6669]

Beautiful footage, wonder what was going on though. Something very obviously was happening there, it looks like one female was being lifted up around 4:15-4:20. Did you guys have any idea on what the occasion was?

[@kanbear4115]

So awesome! I'm heading to San Juan Island on May 20 and really hoping to get to kayak with these beautiful animals.

[@elizabethredman2958]

We were there!!! Amazing week of orca sightings for sure!

[@15cbarclay]

Beautiful! its a dream of mine to see J-pod, or any orca for that matter, in the wild in their natural environment. Moving to Oregon within 5 months and hopefully washington after that! This video is breathtaking. wish my eye was trained enough to ID Mike J-26

[@janieluna4101]

Beautiful & majestic animals thanks for sharing! Those fins r big

[@HouTxFan]

Amazing...thanks SO, SO much for sharing!

[@aranyanii4344]

So relaxing to watch! So beautiful!

[@ewloffredo23]

Yes!!!! So beautiful seeing them where they belong! Bring Lolita home!!!!

[@joaniewaller6504]

Can't the people of Washington state sue Sea world in a class action to get Lolita back? She was stolen from them after all.

[@MrSlidejames]

Thank you Tracey!

[@ruthbruin]

Love it!! We are often in Big Sur and will be in Limekiln this summer. I hope we are as lucky as you! We saw humpback whales splashing around in the distance off Andrew Molina State Beach.

[@stejacorca]

Thank you very much for sharing, Traci! See you next year, as hopefully our black and white friends ;-)

[@aleksandrasokoow6509]

this is simply breathtaking! Beautiful creatures...

[@kimberlyrule]

Lolita s Oh I wish she was free to join the pod. What a great video

[@gsamn2rocks1]

Amazing! I'm super jealous!!!!!!

[@iampears]

Great video! What an amazing sight!

[@WhalesMustLive]

Thank you for the video and the comments. Awesome, and I couldn't agree more.

[@wellsmcc]

Thank you

[@xHanaxHeartx]

beautiful video (: thank you for sharing!

[@jandeccio9093]

Amazing ! They are so beautiful !!

[@LunaARALix]

Wild and Free as they should be :-)

[@hugaplanet]

WOW! That's how they should be seen.

[@JennyyxBbyy]

Simply amazing. Not ONE collapsed dorsal fin. Wild & free!! As nature intended!!!

[@yellogalchun]

Wonder what they were doing.. Hunting? Mating? Sleeping???

[@Saadya16]

Awesome!!! Id love to see them in the wild where they belong 💞

[@lbabytutorials4852]

L pod! This is where Lolita came from

[@palmereldritch4424]

What excellent luck!

[@joaniewaller6504]

Corky, in San Diego Sea world is from there. I wish I had money I would buy her and bring her home. I would buy Morgan , Lolita, and Keto and any babies they have.But we really do need to do something about the salmon and fast. All the states of the pacific need to do a coop agreement to save the Salmon, from California to Alaska a conservation agreement. The nuclear waste from Japan too is killing the pacific something must be done about that.

[@maribs4636]

I love orcas