Researchers at the Kronotsky Nature Reserve are monitoring gray whales in the northern sector of the Kronotsky Gulf. Autumn storms have necessitated a shift in methodology, with observation teams now tracking the marine mammals directly from the shoreline.
Field assessments indicate that some whales remain underweight and need to accumulate sufficient fat reserves to survive the winter. Throughout September, young gray whales and recently weaned calves concentrated their feeding activities in Olga Bay. This behavior suggests a particularly high density of benthic organisms in this specific area of the gulf – a hypothesis that will be tested through laboratory analysis of collected marine samples.
The gray whales are expected to remain in the Kronotsky Gulf until December or January. Current environmental indicators suggest that some individuals might forgo their traditional migration and spend the entire winter in these localized waters. This fieldwork is conducted under a comprehensive research and conservation project focused on the rare Okhotsk Sea gray whale population, operating with backing from the Presidential Fund for Nature.