#ca49b

3/18/19 - Transient orcas are returning to Monterey Bay! Young male OCT031B, also known as CA49B or “Richie,” was recently spotted.

Hey there! Great question!

CA49B Richie (above [x]) and CA49C are orphaned siblings (brother and sister respectively) - their mother CA49 disappeared I believe about a decade ago. CA49B tends to have looser traveling habits: he will travel alone, with his sister, with other adult males, and with other matrilines. CA49C travels full-time with the CA51A’s, Aurora’s pod.

CA50B (above [x]) is an adult orphaned male, and the only surviving offspring of CA50, who disappeared about 5-6 years ago. They were occasionally seen traveling with the CA140′s, Emma’s pod, as seen here:

(First photo [x] from left to right: CA140, CA50, CA50B. Second photo [x] from left to right: CA140B, CA50B, CA140, CA50)

3/18/19 - Another look at CA49B Richie.

5/27/17 - Male CA49B

4/21/17 - Some of the individuals spotted at the gray whale kill again today. From first image to last: CA140 Emma and CA140D, CA27 and one of the calves, sprouting male CA140C, and CA49B (left) and CA20 (right).

Predation alert! Approximately 20-30 orcas made a kill on a gray whale yesterday in Monterey Bay, and continue to feed on the carcass today! Matrilines and individuals include the CA27′s, CA140′s (with CA163), CA20′s pod (presumably with CA54, CA177, and their offspring), and CA49B. Pictures and confirmed IDs are pending.

Additionally, two humpback whales appeared yesterday and today in an attempt to disrupt the feeding, but the orcas were generally unperturbed.

Gray whale hunts are highly important in CA transient orca culture, as they not only serve as a food source for many whales but as a social event as well. Gray whale kills will feed multiple pods for several days, and mothers will use the opportunity to teach their calves valuable hunting skills. Kills also feed other ocean scavengers, and ultimately nourish the ocean floor as the carcass sinks.

8/26/18 - CA49B “Richie” in Monterey Bay. I’m so thrilled to know his nickname now!

10/3/2016 - CA49b