Dead Orca Was Pregnant - A killer whale died and was lying on a Vancouver Island Beach, awaiting for a necropsy performed by scientists. When they arrived, they found a few unpleasant surprises.
One of them was the fact that the dead orca was missing some of her teeth. And it didn't happen naturally; someone had appeared overnight and removed them.
"Someone last night selfishly, cruelly, illegally cut off several teeth from her. It's a crime that can't be described. It's a crime against science; it's a crime against her and the respect to Rhapsody," said Marcie Callewaert from the Victoria Marine Association and Huffington Post noted.
Rhapsody, also named J32, was found to be pregnant too. She had a full-term fetus. Before her death, the scientists believe there were 78 orcas. After this one, they would be 77 which is not a large number in the least.
Of that entire number, only 17 or 18 are believed to be reproductive females. Paul Cottrell, the Pacific marine mammals' coordinator for the Dept. of Fisheries and Oceans said that this is a huge loss to the population.
He stated that the now dead orca could have contributed for decades to the population with her breed and now that's one less orca in an already endangered species.
As for the deft of the orca's teeth, the fisheries officers are taking up on the leads to find the guilty person behind it. Apparently, the sentences can vary from a corporation to a non-profit group or a private citizen, depending on who is the perpetrator.
For individuals, the maximum penalty is a fine of $250,000 or up to five years in prison, or both, according to CBC.
What is a sure deal though is that this case is taken seriously as fisheries don't want people stealing parts from endangered animals and either sell them or trade them, "It's just a senseless act," they stated.
