……objective science for conservation…….

The Pacific WildLife Foundation is a non-profit coastal and marine research and education society  that inspires an appreciation for objective scientific research and conservation of the ocean. We conduct original research, develop novel education programs, and inspire an appreciation for conservation of the ocean. 

Short-finned Pilot Whale Behaviour

Short-finned Pilot Whale Foraging Behaviour

Pilot whales eat mostly squid and occasionally consume fish. They can dive to many 100 meters depth. Traveling pilot whales string out in long phalanxes often associating with other cetaceans. Groups of about 25 are the most common but groups with over 100 individuals are reported (Wilson and Ruff 1999).

Short-finned Pilot Whale Breeding Behaviour

Female pilot whales become sexually mature in their 8^th year and males in their 13^th year (Wilson and Ruff 1999). Males live to 45 years and females to 55 years in the wild. The gestation period for the pilot whale is about 15 months long and calves are suckled as long as two years (Reeves et al. 2002). Females can ovulate for 40 years and give birth about every three years (Wilson and Ruff 1999). Northern Japanese pilot whales mate in August to January and give birth in December or January. The southern Japan pilot whales mate in May and calve in July and August.