PHOTO I.D.

In the 1970's, a Canadian researcher, the late Michael Bigg, and his colleagues developed a technique that revolutionized the study of killer whales. By photographing the killer whales' dorsal fin and gray saddle patch at the base of the fin, they found that individual whales could be identified and studied.

	Click to see some examples of different I.D. shots.	The dorsal fin-the erect fin on the back of a whale.	Distinctive markings on the dorsal fins
		Saddle patch - the lighter pigmented area directly posterior to the dorsal fin on the back of a killer whale

The late Michael Bigg looking at photo identification of killer whales

• Researchers use a high-quality black and white photograph, normally of the left side of the whale.
• The two sides often vary slightly in appearance, but sometimes, one side is completely different.
• Researchers arbitrarily chose the left side to simplify and standardize the system.  
• During the past 25 years, this method has allowed field biologists to systematically study individual killer whales, their social structures, their movement patterns, and the underwater sounds of the wild populations.
  
• Canadian researchers, Dr. Lance Barrett-Lennard of the Vancouver Aquarium Marine Science Centre and his colleague Dr. John Ford and Graeme Ellis of the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, continue to track the individual whales that frequent the Canadian waters, and reveal the mysteries of the killer whale to the world.
  
  
  

  Want the latest information on
  B.C.'s killer whales?
  

  Both books include ID catalogue.
  "Killer Whales-2nd edition" $22.95,
  "Transients" $24.95.

  To order call 1-800-663-0562 or e-mail clamshell@vanaqua.org