The humpback whale Tic Tac Toe, a real star in the St. Lawrence estuary, would be, so to speak, condemned to death, according to the observations of experts, who judge that its great thinness demonstrates that it is in a “condition critical “.
“The first images transmitted by captains and naturalists show a severely emaciated animal. Images captured by drone did not show signs of collision or entanglement, but confirm that Tic Tac Toe is in poor condition. The veterinarians and experts consulted judge his condition to be critical,” the Quebec Emergency Network for Marine Mammals (RQUMM) said on Thursday.
This whale, known since 1999, was very emaciated when it recently arrived in the Tadoussac area, on the North Shore. We also don’t know if she is able to eat. “However, we know that animals in a similar state can survive several weeks or even months. However, few cases of recovery have been observed. These situations are usually irreversible,” specifies the RQUMM.
Experts are asking cruise passengers and boaters not to approach the animal “to give it the best chance for recovery.”
When they return to the feeding grounds in the spring, great whales are often emaciated. “However, Tic Tac Toe’s condition is unusual. Consultations with scientists who work with large populations of humpback whales confirm that Tic Tac Toe’s situation is extreme. At this level of emaciation, veterinarians estimate that his chances of survival are low,” explains the RQUMM.
Tic Tac Toe is a female now 27 years old and she could theoretically live for several more years, since the species can reach the venerable age of 80 years, in addition to reaching a size of 13 to 17 meters, for a weight of 30 to 40 tonnes.
It is recognizable by the “X” that can be seen under its caudal fin when it dives. The patterns of its coloring and the marks visible under the caudal fin of humpback whales are the most commonly used means to identify individuals of this species.
Tic Tac Toe has spawned a few times over the years. In 2007, she was even the first humpback whale to bring her calf, a female named Aramis, into the estuary. Subsequently, the two whales were seen swimming together in the St. Lawrence on several occasions. And in 2020, researchers working in the Turks and Caicos Islands spotted Aramis with her first calf. Tic Tac Toe thus became a grandmother at the age of 23.