1.
WA
ORCA
RESEARCH
WA
ORCA
RESEARCH
NINGALOONINGALOO PHOTOPHOTO ID CATALOGID CATALOG
Please report sightings to MIRG at 0419 949 939

2.
WA03
‘Augie’
–
juvenile
male
–
age
10
years
Photo-­‐identification
of
whales
started
in
the
early
1970s
with
Dr
Michael
Bigg’s
killer
whale
research
off
the
coast
of
British
Columbia.
Photo
ID
(capturing
images
showing
unique
and
recognisable
markings),
recorded
positions
and
dates
of
observations
allow
analysis
of
populations,
life
histories,
social
structure,
genealogy
(family
groups),
and
distribution.
Our
photo
ID
work
with
the
animals
re-­‐visiting
the
Ningaloo
coast
each
winter
is
starting
to
show
some
of
this
information
and
has
revealed
a
few
of
the
kinships.
Long-­‐term
study
of
these
animals
will
enable
monitoring
of
the
population,
possible
threats
and
the
effect
they
are
having
as
apex
predators
on
the
marine
ecosystem.
This
catalogue
will
also
be
a
useful
resource
for
other
researchers
and
avid
whale
watchers
alike.
WA18
‘Kone’
has
been
named
after
a
particular
animal
that
features
in
the
pioneering
work
of
Dr
Michael
Bigg.
Breaching
off
Lighthouse
bommie
–
female
from
Hook
and
Abby’s
group.

3.
WA01
‘Geo’
–
first
sighted
in
2005
WA02
‘Hook’
–
adult
female,
first
sighted
2006
WA03
‘Augie’
–
juvenile
male
(received
tag
in
2014)
WA04
‘Jigsaw’
–
female,
first
sighted
in
‘06
WA05
‘Pimp’
–
female,
first
sighted
in
’06

4.
WA06
‘Wisp’
–
adult
female,
first
sighted
in
2011
WA07
‘Willo’
–
juvenile,
first
sighted
in
2011
WA08
‘Pec’
–
adult
female,
first
sighted
in
2010
WA09
‘Chips’
–
female,
first
sighted
2012
WA10
‘Spinner’

5.
WA11
‘Elle’
–
female
(born
2013
est)
WA12
‘Tiff’
–
juvenile
male
WA13
‘Kitz’
–
juvenile
WA14
‘Abby’
–
adult
female
(tagged
in
2013)
WA15
‘Cosmo’
(born
2012
est)

6.
WA16
WA17
–
with
WA16
WA18
‘Kone’
with
Hook
WA02
WA19
large
male
from
group
of
12
animals
–
Aug
2013
WA20
‘Fin’
(born
early
2014
est)

7.
WA21
‘Pablo’
–
large
male,
first
sighted
in
2005,
again
in
2010
WA22
–
adult
male,
first
sighted
July
2014
WU02
–
sighted
January
2010
WU03
–
sighted
January
2010
WU03
&
WU04
WU06
Abby
and
Hook’s
group
‘mingling’
out
in
the
canyons
(08
Aug
2013)

8.
Satellite
Tag
deployment
transmitting
tag
in
place
small
scar
left
The
data
gained
from
tagging
includes
local
fine-­‐scale
movements,
larger
migration
tracks
and
dive
profiles.
The
almost
real-­‐time
location
data
allows
frequent
follow-­‐up
observations
of
group
behaviour,
social
structures
and
the
capture
of
ID
photos
essential
for
population
estimates.
The
dive
profiles
provide
insight
into
feeding
behaviour
helping
to
determine
the
effect
on
particular
prey
species.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
All
research
is
carried
out
under
Australian
Commonwealth
Government
and
WA
State
Government
permits
and
licences
–
issued
to
MIRG
Australia.
©
MIRG
Australia
2015
–
copying
of
all
or
part
of
this
document
is
restricted
under
copyright
Please
report
any
sightings
to
MIRG
at
0419
949
939