The 1970s: A Sudden Realization
Western science knew almost nothing about orcas before the 1970s. They were feared as deadly predators who devoured humans and fishers’ livelihood alike. But an orca called Moby Doll who lived long enough in captivity to generate public interest soon turned terror to fascination. As the number of orcas in captivity grew, the Canadian government commissioned Michael Bigg, their head of marine mammal research on the west coast, to do a killer whale census. He learned that there were only hundreds of killer whales instead of the thousands people believed, and they lived in small, close-knit families that were devastated when members were captured.
Growing Up
Researchers can tell individual orcas apart by the saddle patch, or pale marking behind the dorsal fin, and the shape and marks of the dorsal fin itself. Shortly after beginning his work on killer whales, Dr. Bigg developed a photo identification method using these two areas. The dorsal fin and saddle patch of the whale were photographed so that the images could be compared to whales in the wild during research. Individual whales become familiar over time, and there is a sense of pride in addition to research value to watching them grow.
J-17 Princess Angeline, 1978
L-41 Mega, 1978
The Whale Museum: The Beginning
The Whale Museum opened its doors in 1979 to educate the public about whales. Before this period whales were primarily studied from their bodies after death, but Michael Bigg proved that live whales could be studied in the wild and that much could only be learned by observing their daily lives. One of the earliest discoveries was that killer whales lived in separate communities with strictly distinct diets. Today the museum focuses on education about the Salish Sea ecosystem and the fish-eating Southern Resident Community of orcas which frequent the area.