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A pod of killer whales was spotted passing through Vancouver’s Burrard Inlet Monday, looking as majestic as ever:
And another one because I just can't get enough of the whales. #Chopper9 @Choppermurman @CTVVancouver #Vancouver pic.twitter.com/OuvVhwriGr
— Carly Yoshida (@CTVcarlyyoshida) June 22, 2015
The whales’ visit came at the perfect time, coinciding with the launch of the Vancouver Aquarium’s new WhaleReport app.
The free app (get it on iTunes or on Android) allows people to upload photos of the cetaceans and uses GPS to mark the exact location of the sighting. (It also includes a species identification guide for those that can’t tell a Minke whale from a humpback whale.) People out of range can log sightings and submit them when they have cellular service.
By collecting information about where species are at what time of year and how they move over time, scientists can take action to help species at risk.
The B.C. Cetacean Sighting Network developed the app with funding from Mountain Equipment Co-op and Environment Canada.
The 15-year-old network already has a database of more than 83,000 sightings submitted by more than 4,000 people by phone, email, through the website and using paper logbooks. The app is expected to make it even easier for people to report sightings.
“So many sightings occur unexpectedly; you might be on a boat, walking along the cliff tops or paddling your kayak out on the water,” network coordinator Tessa Danelesko said in a statement.
“With both boating and ecotourism ramping up at this time of year, we encourage everyone to download the free app and help us monitor the cetaceans and sea turtles that live along our coast.”
Agencies/Canadajournal
