Welcome to Episode #8 of Planet People! In this episode, we interview killer whale expert Nicole Schriber, who studies these amazing whales as a marine biology student at UC San Diego. She also works as a naturalist specializing in orca research and educating wildlife enthusiasts who join the “Gone Whale Watching” boat tours in San Diego. The recent sightings of orcas off of Southern California prompted a personal investigation for Nicole. As she observed this specific pod of whales, known as the Eastern Tropical Pacific Killer Whales (ETP), she was able to collect data for her photo identification book while leading these tours. Her research contributes to an overall understanding of ETPs and beyond the data collection, her experience provided amazing stories for our audience to learn from. This interview is immensely exciting as she is at the forefront of research due to the orcas’ elusiveness in Southern California waters!

In addition to her marine biology experience in California, Nicole also spends time in Alaska during the summer leading glacier tours out of Hubbard Bay. While aboard these tours she sometimes observes orcas, further fueling her passion for whale watching and educating the world around her! She captured many of these sightings from Alaska to SoCal with her camera gear, which she provides details on during this episode.

Nicole shares her passion for these amazing animals through close-up encounters. She has had several encounters with individual orcas in the ETP pod and learned about their different personalities—she even had the chance to name a female orca! Along with stories, she provides us with fun facts about these fascinating sea creatures and what it takes to survive in a matriarchal animal world. From fun facts to truly riveting stories, Nicole’s episode won’t be one you want to miss!

Featured Guests:

Nicole Schriber @nicole.orcinologist

https://www.instagram.com/nicole.orcinologist?igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

Organization Handles and Information:

Nicole’s ETP Photo Guide: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1ebcMKY7y_qk7nJ6kwbkgtWnkLIGTEsvpRNq01cWBD7M/mobilepresent?slide=id.g2a93adb05a9_0_34

Gone Whale Watching Tours

https://www.gonewhalewatching.com/

The North Gulf Oceanic Society

https://www.whalesalaska.org/

Happy Whale

https://happywhale.com/home

IG: @happywhale_official

Allen Marine Tours

https://allenmarinetours.com/

Intertidal Kendy @intertidalkendy

https://www.instagram.com/intertidalkendy?igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

Thank you for tuning into Planet People!