Daniela Maldini, Ph.D. Director of Research Pacific Whale Foundation

False killer whale Pseudorca crassidens Length: 11.5 – 19.5 ft (females up to 15 ft) Weight: avg. 1,500 lb Gestation: months Lactation: years Calving intervals: 7 yrs Life span: male 58 yrs, female 63 yrs

Why is it called False Killer Whale? 7U-12L 10U-12L

Close Relatives in Hawaii Pygmy Killer Whales (Feresa attenuata) Melon Headed Whales (Peponocephala elctra) Pygmy killer whale Melon-headed whale 9 ft – 365 lbs 8 ft – 350 lbs

Worldwide Distribution False Killer Whales

Hawaiian Populations “Pelagic” – offshore “Insular” – island-associated estimated at only 123 animals effective population size only is 46 Insular population declined from 1989 to 2010 from 3 rd common species in Hawaii to 9 th common species in Hawaii Aerial survey data from Dr. Joe Mobley, UH

Movements and Habitat Use Baird et al Movements and habitat use of satellite-tagged false killer whales around the main Hawaiian Islands. Endangered Species Research 10: Applied satellite tags to 3 groups of insular and one group (1 ind.) of pelagic Pseudoorca; Groups from insular population regularly moved between leeward and windward side of the islands; Some individuals moved extensively and rapidly among islands; Others remained associated with the island of Hawaii for longer periods; Individuals within groups associated and dissassociated over periods of days sometimes moving >100km apart; The pelagic individual came within 62km of land (inshore of the longline fishery exclusion boundary); Insular groups stayed <100km from shore. Distance from shore cannot be used as a strict boundary between populations Individuals from insular population may overlap with longline fisheries

Social Structure

Food Sharing

Mass Strandings

Threats Hunted in West Indies and Indonesia Some killed every year in Japan – THE COVE – Iki Island 900 killed between Long-line fisheries in Hawaii Persistent organic pollutants (e.g. PCBs, PBDEs) Reduction in prey size Deliberate shooting

Hawaii-based long-line fishery id the only fishery with an observer program 20% coverge in the deep-set tuna fishery False killer whale bycatch exceeded “sustainable levels” since at least 1999 Jan NMFS formed a Take Reduction Team Draft of Take Reduction Plan Mandatory Circle Hooks Weak Hooks Year-round closure of area around main Hawaiian Islands Measures Being Considered In Hawaii

PACIFIC WHALE FOUNDATION

Do not let our Kama’aina whale fade into oblivion!