Inbreeding among an endangered population of orcas off the coasts of British Columbia, Washington and Oregon is a cause for concern.
Southern Resident killer whales, a small population of orcas living in the Pacific Ocean off the northwest coast of North America, are so isolated that they've taken to inbreeding, which has contributed to their decline, a new study finds.
One reason for this decline is the group's limited geographic range, which stretches between British Columbia and Oregon. Additionally, females with the lowest level of inbreeding can expect to have 2.6 offspring in their lifetimes, while highly inbred females will have an average of 1.6 calves, according to the statement.
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