October 15, 2019 03:37 PM Advertisement. He's become a local celebrity among coastal communities for his rare coloring. This family pod is often seen in and around the waters of Vancouver Island. Gless said she’s not sure how Tl’uk got his coloring–it worried researchers who first thought it signaled his health was declining. Forget white walkers, it’s all about this white w’orca -Tl’uk! SpringTide I – Fishing & Private Charters. This family pod is often seen in and around the waters of Vancouver Island. Washington’s resident orcas that feast exclusively on salmon are having less luck–the fish’s numbers have significantly declined, and as its prey shrinks, so do orca populations in the Pacific Northwest. He was later spotted in 2015- a positive sign that grey orca can live for a substantial amount of time! Perhaps another clue or symptom of Tl’uk’s grey colour? By Caitlin O'Kane August 20, 2020 / 2:39 ... Tl'uk is a two-year-old male killer whale. “It’s a coast Salish word, I believe means bright moon, appropriately,” Garrett said. This grey/white orca T46B1B, nicknamed Tl’uk, was identified by Alaska Sea Adventures off Cape Bendel, Frederick Sound, August 7 th, 2020. He and his pod swim anywhere between eastern Alaska and northern California, said Towers. the fish’s numbers have significantly declined, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. More. (for more on what a transient orca is click here) Only time will tell how this special and rare orca will do- we’re excited to see! A Petersburg-based whale watching and charter company documented the white orca in the Inside Passage this summer. An incredibly rare white killer whale, which is thought to be one of only five in the world, has been spotted near Alaska. not very catchy I know hence the nick name Tl’uk. While it is uncommon to see, a researcher says Tl'uk, a white orca living near the waters off Vancouver Island, isn't that hard to find. Success! Tl'uk is B.C. Tl’uk was determined to be a 2-year-old Bigg’s killer whale. Tiny Tl’uk was first spotted in November 2018, and he’s about a year old, she said. In 2010 a white male orca nicknamed ‘Iceberg’ was spotted off Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula, at this time he was believed to be 16 years of age. Translated, his name comes from the Coast Salish word for ‘moon’ and it’s easy to see why he was given it! A rare white orca calf has been spotted along the Washington coast, delighting whale watchers lucky enough to see him.. Tl’uk, whose name means … We hope that Tl’uk will live for a long time yet and it does help that he is part of a transient orca pod. In the early 1970s, a female orca named Chimo who was held in captivity, was documented to have suffered from Chédiak-Higashi Syndrome. A white orca! The young’s mother is T046B1 which makes his name T046B1B…. So why is this little orca a different colour to the rest of his family? This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. Yes! Tl’uk, a juvenile orca with white pigmentation swims near Petersburg, Aug. 6. Incredible views of T046B1B (known locallaly as Tl'uk) expressing high energy surface behaviour with his family. A RARE white killer whale spotted off the coast of Alaska is thought to be one of only five in the world. Published Meet Tl’uk, the two year old white killer whale/orca from the Canadian Bigg’s/Transient Killer Whale pod T046. Captain Ian, who spends a lot of time on the water with these magnificent creatures, had some interesting observations about this little guy. Beyond their shrinking prey, they’re vulnerable to toxic chemicals like PCBs, noise pollution that interferes with their communication and oil spills, particularly the 1989 Exxon Valdez incident. A rare, white orca named Tl’uk has been seen for the first time in Alaska waters. When he breaks the surface he seems to have a lot more water coming out with him than the smooth surfacing of the adults.” Captain Ian told me. To complete your CNN profile and ensure you are able to receive important account information, please verify your email address. The white orca could have one of a possible three current running theories: leucism which is where an animal partially loses its colour pigmentation in skin, hair, feathers, scales or cuticles, but not the eyes. He’s been spotted a handful of times in the Salish Sea by local whale watchers and cropped up again this weekend, Island Adventures Whale Watching lead naturalist Erin Gless told CNN. Makes his name T046B1B… Petersburg, Aug. 6, said Towers Salish Indigenous language, “ Tl ’ uk usually. Alaska and northern California, said Towers Syndrome, this affects the immune system and therefor the animal s... 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