How many killer whales do we have?

Prior to 1976, the number of Resident Killer Whales was just a guess. Thanks to Dr. Michael Bigg, Ken Balcomb, and Graeme Ellis, accurate counts became possible. The reason that it became possible was the development identification photo charts. Positive identification of each animal lead to knowing for certain how many whales there were. Photo identification also taught us that some of the orcas were resident, some transient, some offshore and some northern resident. In 1976 Ken Balcomb confirmed 71 resident orca whales were present in these waters.

How are orca whales identified? The saddle patch right behind the dorsal fin is like a fingerprint. No two orcas have the same patch. Also, height and shape of dorsal fin can be useful as well as notches, scratches and if the fin leans to one side or the other.