Orca, Grey Whales, Humpback Central, Dolphins and Porpoise

A publication of Wild Ocean Whale Society (WOWs)

Orca, Grey Whales, Humpback Central, Dolphins and Porpoise


Cover Image:
Humpback breaching close to Francisco Point

More of the Northern Resident (fish eating) Killer Whale populations are back into the upper Johnstone Strait and Broughtons areas, so the fish are starting to come in as well. The Transient Bigg’s (meat eating) Orca have been passing through areas of the inside waters. They may not want to risk entanglements with all the Humpback Whales we have in the upper Georgia Strait, so are not staying long.

Great to have a Grey Whale report by Victoria. They are not frequently reported to us as they usually tend to stay outside of the Georgia Strait, or just pass through.

Pacific White Sided Dolphins, although spread out to center Johnstone Strait are spending their Summer, as they have over a number of years, mostly in Nodales Channel. We see them foraging, close at times, with Dall’s Porpoise who seem to be staying well clear of the Bigg’s Orca travels, as are the Harbour Porpoise.

There have been many near misses with boaters almost striking whales. Slow Down Please!
Keep your eyes open, report your sightings to us, and use caution on the water giving these animals plenty of room. Stop and smell the fish breath.

Society News & Events

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Sightings Update
SIGHTINGS MAP – ISSUE: 2018-023
TRANSIENT BIGGS KILLER WHALES
Wed Jul 18 2018
08:10 • 3-4 Biggs Orca heading north approaching Broken Islands, Johnstone Strait. Tight to shore, travelling at 5 knots. One big fin.
Robin Pears, Blind Channel Resort
NORTHERN RESIDENT KILLER WHALES
Sat Jul 21 2018
10:07 • NRKW Orca ◦A42s◦ heading east past Telegraph Cove, Broughton Strait.
07:48 • NRKW Orca at Stubbs Island, Weynton Passage.
Thu Jul 19 2018
13:52 • NRKW Orca heading east off Bold Head, Swanson Island, Queen Charlotte Strait.
Wed Jul 18 2018
14:11 • NRKW Orca in Blackney Passage, Blackfish Sound.
UNIDENTIFIED KILLER WHALES
Sat Jul 21 2018
13:21 • 6 Orca moving slowly, heading east close to Windy Point, Johnstone Strait. Small fins. ▫ Leaving the Scene
Unidentified Killer Whales
Killer Whales heading east close to Windy Point
Sat, 21 Jul 2018 – 1 items

Unidentified Killer Whales
Killer Whales heading east close to Windy Point
Sat, 21 Jul 2018 – 1 items
12:26 • est. 6 Orca heading east off Adam River, Johnstone Strait.
SPECIES SUPPLEMENT
Unidentified Killer Whales
Killer Whales near Savary Island
Sun, 22 Jul 2018 – 2 items
SPECIES SUPPLEMENT
Unidentified Killer Whales
Killer Whales near Savary Island
Sun, 22 Jul 2018 – 2 items
HUMPBACK WHALES
Sat Jul 21 2018
17:43 • 3 Humpback Whales heading north off Coulter Bay, Cortes Island, Sutil Channel.
16:49 • Humpback Whales doing circles, in Drew Passage. Active whales.
Kurt Staples, Eagle Eye Adventures
16:20 • 2 Humpback Whales south of Mitlenatch Island, Georgia Strait.
15:58 • 2 Humpback Whales ◦BCZ Lucky; BCY0057 Niagara◦ heading south from Quartz Bay, Cortes Island, Sutil Channel.
Kurt Staples, Eagle Eye Adventures
Humpback Whales
Humpbacks, BCZ Lucky and BCY0057 Niagara, heading south from Quartz Bay
Sat, 21 Jul 2018 – 5 items
Kurt Staples, Eagle Eye Adventures
Humpback Whales
Humpbacks, BCZ Lucky and BCY0057 Niagara, heading south from Quartz Bay
Sat, 21 Jul 2018 – 5 items
Kurt Staples, Eagle Eye Adventures
15:29 • 2 Humpback Whales heading south-east from Twin Bay towards Center Islet, Sutil Channel. ▫ Leaving the Scene
Leigh Nelson, Adventure Quest Tours
14:55 • 1 Humpback Whales heading south in Bute Inlet. Approaching first waterfall.
14:53 • est. 6 Humpback Whales spread out, from Sandy (Tree) Island to Texada Island, Georgia Strait.
Peter Hamilton, Lifeforce
14:24 • 2 Humpback Whales active, in Deer Passage. Information from Pacific Yellowfin Charters. ▫ Second Hand
Leigh Nelson, Adventure Quest Tours
13:12 • 3 Humpback Whales between Penn Islands and Von Donop Inlet, Sutil Channel.
13:10 • Humpback Whales off Harbott Point, Stuart Island, Calm Channel.
12:46 • 1 Humpback Whales doing circles, off Harbott Point, Stuart Island. Nice flukes.
Robin Pears, Blind Channel Resort
12:22 • 1 Humpback Whales just north of Von Donop Inlet, Cortes Island, Sutil Channel.
12:18 • 1 Humpback Whales south Penn Islands, Sutil Channel.
12:09 • Humpback Whales doing circles, abeam Port Neville near the shore of Vancouver Island, Johnstone Strait. Vancouver Island Side.
11:25 • Humpback Whales near Sentry Shoal, Georgia Strait. ▫ Leaving the Scene
Stan Novotny, Eagle Eye Adventures
11:24 • Humpback Whales south of largest Penn Islands, Sutil Channel.
11:10 • 1 Humpback Whales 2 miles off Manson Passage, Malaspina Strait.
Humpback Whales
Humpback off of Manson Passage
Sat, 21 Jul 2018 – 3 items
Humpback Whales
Humpback off of Manson Passage
Sat, 21 Jul 2018 – 3 items
10:51 • Humpback Whales north of Penn Islands, Sutil Channel.
10:40 • 1 Humpback Whales off tip of east Penn Islands. About 1/2 mile offshore, sleeping.
Robin Pears, Blind Channel Resort
10:37 • 1 Humpback Whales heading south off Willow Point, Georgia Strait.
10:37 • 3 Humpback Whales heading south by Sentry Shoal, Georgia Strait.
10:37 • 3 Humpback Whales heading north 3-miles west of Savary Island, Georgia Strait.
10:37 • 1 Humpback Whales at the south end of Hernando Island, Georgia Strait.
Elvis Chikite, Pacific Pro Dive
09:51 • 2 Humpback Whales south of Sentry Shoal, Georgia Strait.
09:51 • est. 4 Humpback Whales toward Grant Reefs, Georgia Strait.
Reuben Buerge, Eagle Eye Adventures
09:26 • 1 Humpback Whales between Savary Island and Mitlenatch Island, Georgia Strait.
09:16 • 1 Humpback Whales resting, 2.5 miles east of Mitlenatch Island, Georgia Strait. Sleepy, little movement.
09:16 • Humpback Whales closer to Powell River, Georgia Strait. Only saw blows in the sunrise towards Powell River.
Robin Pears, Blind Channel Resort
09:15 • 2 Humpback Whales heading north off Johnstone Bluff in the middle of Calm Channel.
08:20 • 1 Humpback Whales heading north past Hole in the Wall close to the shore of Sonora Island, Calm Channel. Travelling at 4 knots.
Ryan Stewart, Sonora Resort
Fri Jul 20 2018
17:02 • 4 Humpback Whales in Quartz Bay, Cortes Island, Sutil Channel.
Jason Fitzgerald, Eagle Eye Adventures
15:50 • 1 Humpback Whales off Hickey Point, Johnstone Strait. Very active whale.
Jess Cavanagh, Blind Channel Resort
15:35 • 4 Humpback Whales just south of Von Donop Inlet, Cortes Island, Sutil Channel.
14:49 • 1 Humpback Whales near Jimmy Judd Island, Dent Rapids.
Elvis Chikite, Pacific Pro Dive
14:02 • 2 Humpback Whales north of Penn Islands heading towards Cortes Island, Sutil Channel.
14:02 • 2 Humpback Whales between Mitlenatch Island and Hernando Island, Georgia Strait.
14:00 • 4 Humpback Whales moving slowly, heading north just south of Penn Islands, Sutil Channel.
13:45 • 3 Humpback Whales resting, one mile south of Mitlenatch Island, Georgia Strait.
12:32 • 2 Humpback Whales at Viner Point, Read Island, Sutil Channel. Active whales.
12:08 • 2 Humpback Whales in Whale Passage very close to the shore of Read Island, Sutil Channel.
12:08 • 1 Humpback Whales near Bullock Bluff, Calm Channel.
Leigh Nelson, Adventure Quest Tours
11:06 • 12 Humpback Whales within 1 mile of Sentry Shoal, Georgia Strait.
Elvis Chikite, Pacific Pro Dive
10:53 • 2 Humpback Whales heading north between Marina Island and Whaletown, Sutil Channel.
Leigh Nelson, Adventure Quest Tours
10:44 • 2 Humpback Whales by the shack on Marina Island, Sutil Channel.
10:43 • 1 Humpback Whales off Bullock Bluff, Cortes Island, Calm Channel.
Jason Fitzgerald, Eagle Eye Adventures
10:43 • est. 12 Humpback Whales between Montgomery Bank and Mitlenatch Island, Georgia Strait. 7-8 whales in a group and the others further north between Sentry Shoal and Mitlenatch Island.
Reuben Buerge, Eagle Eye Adventures
10:12 • 3 Humpback Whales between Carrington Bay and Penn Islands, Sutil Channel.
Jason Fitzgerald, Eagle Eye Adventures
08:58 • Humpback Whales south of Penn Islands, Sutil Channel.
08:54 • 4 Humpback Whales heading east 0.75-nm east of Sentry Shoal, Georgia Strait. Quick dives.
Robin Pears, Blind Channel Resort
Thu Jul 19 2018
16:30 • 4 Humpback Whales west of Coho / Kiddie Point at the NW tip of Texada Island, Georgia Strait.
Peter Hamilton, Lifeforce
16:20 • 10-12 Humpback Whales between Manson Passage and Sentry Shoal, Georgia Strait.
Leigh Nelson, Adventure Quest Tours
15:53 • 1 Humpback Whales near Mayes Point, Read Island, Drew Passage.
15:45 • 2 Humpback Whales midway between Quadra Island Scallop Farm and Francisco Point, Sutil Channel. 14 breaches.
15:40 • est. 12 Humpback Whales spread out, at Montgomery Bank, Georgia Strait.
Reuben Buerge, Eagle Eye Adventures
15:08 • 1 Humpback Whales north tip of North Rendezvous Island, Drew Passage, Drew Passage.
14:44 • 2 Humpback Whales off the mine on Texada Island, Georgia Strait.
Peter Hamilton, Lifeforce
14:28 • Humpback Whales heading south between Sentry Shoal and Mitlenatch Island, Georgia Strait. Several Humpbacks.
13:13 • 2 Humpback Whales half a mile north of Subtle Islands, Sutil Channel.
12:30 • 1 Humpback Whales off Carrington Bay, Cortes Island, Sutil Channel.
11:53 • 3 Humpback Whales heading north off Marina Reef, Sutil Channel.
Kurt Staples, Eagle Eye Adventures
11:38 • 1 Humpback Whales at the south end of Drew Passage. Got a quick view of the whale.
11:20 • 3 Humpback Whales heading east off Sentry Shoal, Georgia Strait.
11:20 • 3 Humpback Whales off Mansons Landing, Cortes Island, Sutil Channel.
11:20 • 2 Humpback Whales heading south off Mitlenatch Island, Georgia Strait.
Kurt Staples, Eagle Eye Adventures
11:13 • 2 Humpback Whales south of Penn Islands, Sutil Channel. ▫ Leaving the Scene
10:32 • 3 Humpback Whales east of Sentry Shoal, Georgia Strait.
Reuben Buerge, Eagle Eye Adventures
10:31 • 5-6 Humpback Whales between Mitlenatch Island and Baker Passage, Georgia Strait.
10:31 • 1 Humpback Whales doing circles, south west of Hernando Island, Georgia Strait.
10:31 • 1 Humpback Whales breaching, south of Savary Island, Georgia Strait.
Elvis Chikite, Pacific Pro Dive
10:28 • 2 Humpback Whales between Subtle Islands and Center Islet, Sutil Channel.
10:19 • 2 Humpback Whales in front of Manson Passage, Malaspina Strait.
10:19 • 2 Humpback Whales near Sentry Shoal, Georgia Strait.
Reuben Buerge, Eagle Eye Adventures
10:16 • 2 Humpback Whales mid-straight between Marina Island and Quadra Island two miles south of ferry line in Sutil Channel. Mother and calf. ▫ Leaving the Scene
09:59 • 2 Humpback Whales in Whale Passage, Sutil Channel.
09:56 • 3 Humpback Whales at the reef on the south end of Marina Island, Sutil Channel. ▫ Leaving the Scene
09:47 • 2 Humpback Whales between Mitlenatch Island and Baker Passage, Georgia Strait.
Reuben Buerge, Eagle Eye Adventures
08:28 • 3-4 Humpback Whales off Marina Island, Sutil Channel. ▫ Second Hand
06:51 • 1 Humpback Whales in Whale Passage, Sutil Channel. Big-sized whale. ▫ Second Hand
06:51 • 2 Humpback Whales north of Penn Islands, Sutil Channel. ▫ Second Hand
06:46 • 1 Humpback Whales in front of Carrington Bay, Cortes Island, Sutil Channel.
06:41 • 2 Humpback Whales south of Subtle Islands, Sutil Channel. ▫ Second Hand
06:41 • 2 Humpback Whales off Coulter Bay, Sutil Channel. ▫ Second Hand
Jerry Weldon, Eagle Eye Adventures
–:– • est. 12 Humpback Whales around Mitlenatch Island, Georgia Strait. Observed during the afternoon.
Peter Hamilton, Lifeforce
Wed Jul 18 2018
19:17 • 5 Humpback Whales south of Subtle Islands, Sutil Channel. ▫ Leaving the Scene
Leigh Nelson, Adventure Quest Tours
14:59 • 4 Humpback Whales between Center Islet and Viner Point, Sutil Channel.
14:32 • 2 Humpback Whales 200 meters off-shore east of Viner Point, Read Island, Sutil Channel.
14:17 • 2 Humpback Whales close to Francisco Point, Quadra Island, Georgia Strait.
Jerry Weldon, Eagle Eye Adventures
Humpback Whales
Humpback breaching close to Francisco Point
Wed, 18 Jul 2018 – 8 items
Humpback Whales
Humpback breaching close to Francisco Point
Wed, 18 Jul 2018 – 8 items
12:31 • 4 Humpback Whales heading west between Whaletown and the south end of the Quadra Island Scallop Farm, Sutil Channel. Angled towards Quadra Island. ▫ Leaving the Scene
Leigh Nelson, Adventure Quest Tours
11:52 • 1 Humpback Whales ◦BCY0291 KC◦ off Horn Point, Dent Rapids.
Reuben Buerge, Eagle Eye Adventures
10:47 • 2 Humpback Whales heading south between the Cape Mudge Green Can Buoy and Shelter Point, Georgia Strait. ▫ Leaving the Scene
Leigh Nelson, Adventure Quest Tours
10:43 • 3 Humpback Whales ◦BCY0057 Niagara◦ heading north-west off Whaletown, Cortes Island, Sutil Channel.
10:04 • Humpback Whales heading north-west 2 miles south-east of Cape Lazo, Comox, Georgia Strait.
09:40 • Humpback Whales leaving Hole in the Wall and entering Okisollo Channel. ▫ Second Hand
09:32 • 2 Humpback Whales south-west of the Cape Mudge Red Can Buoy, Georgia Strait. The whales just did a dive.
09:24 • 2 Humpback Whales off the Shark Spit, Marina Island, Sutil Channel. Mother and calf pair.
09:24 • 1 Humpback Whales near the Quadra Island Scallop Farm south of Heriot Bay, Sutil Channel.
09:13 • 2 Humpback Whales less than 1 mile south of the Cape Mudge Red Can Buoy, Georgia Strait.
Jerry Weldon, Eagle Eye Adventures
09:05 • 2 Humpback Whales heading east close to Comox, Georgia Strait. One whale had lots of white on its fluke. ▫ From Ferry
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
08:42 • 2 Humpback Whales among the fishing boats at the Cape Mudge Green Can Buoy, Georgia Strait.
07:57 • 2 Humpback Whales off Hernando Island, Georgia Strait. Reported by Wayne. The blows were observed. ▫ Second Hand
07:57 • 2 Humpback Whales near the Shark Spit, Marina Island, Sutil Channel. Reported by Wayne. The blows were observed. ▫ Second Hand
Jerry Weldon, Eagle Eye Adventures
07:44 • 2-3 Humpback Whales off Cape Lazo, Comox, Georgia Strait. ▫ Second Hand
GREY WHALES
Mon Jul 16 2018
09:25 • 1 Grey Whales moving slowly, heading south-west south of the harbour in Victoria, Strait of Juan de Fuca. A young whale seen swimming slowly and surfacing for one or 2 breaths, then taking very shallow dives. ▫ From Power or Sail Boat
MO, Orca Magic
Grey Whales
Grey Whale heading south-west just south of the harbour in Victoria
Mon, 16 Jul 2018 – 2 items
Marie O’Shaughnessy, Orca Magic
Grey Whales
Grey Whale heading south-west just south of the harbour in Victoria
Mon, 16 Jul 2018 – 2 items
Marie O’Shaughnessy, Orca Magic
PACIFIC WHITE SIDED DOLPHINS
Sat Jul 21 2018
16:30 • PWS Dolphins milling, 500-m from Chatham Point, Discovery Passage.
13:35 • est. 50 PWS Dolphins off Howe Island angled into Nodales Channel.
Jess Cavanagh, Blind Channel Resort
11:11 • est. 30-40 PWS Dolphins spread out and foraging, between Chatham Point and Greensea Bay, Discovery Passage.
Leigh Nelson, Adventure Quest Tours
10:30 • est. 30 PWS Dolphins heading east at Chatham Point angled at Howe Island, Discovery Passage.
08:55 • PWS Dolphins heading north by William Point, Loughborough Inlet.
08:25 • est. 40 PWS Dolphins moving quickly, heading west off Grismond Point, Chancellor Channel.
Jess Cavanagh, Blind Channel Resort
Fri Jul 20 2018
15:36 • PWS Dolphins bow riding, heading east off Windy Point, Johnstone Strait. Large pod near the Holland America ship.
Jess Cavanagh, Blind Channel Resort
14:49 • est. 50 PWS Dolphins bucking tide, heading south off Horn Point, Dent Rapids.
Elvis Chikite, Pacific Pro Dive
13:15 • PWS Dolphins heading west between the rock slide and Frederick Arm in Nodales Channel. ▫ Leaving the Scene
Robin Pears, Blind Channel Resort
12:58 • PWS Dolphins near Denham Islet, Dent Rapids. ▫ Leaving the Scene
12:06 • PWS Dolphins heading north off the south shore of East Thurlow Island, Johnstone Strait. Travelling at 15 knots. ▫ Leaving the Scene
Jason Fitzgerald, Eagle Eye Adventures
10:45 • PWS Dolphins foraging, at the mouth of Frederick Arm.
09:30 • PWS Dolphins moving quickly, heading east between Walkem Islands and Turn Island, Johnstone Strait. Small group.
Jess Cavanagh, Blind Channel Resort
08:48 • est. 30 PWS Dolphins in Frederick Arm. Information from Pacific Yellowfin Charters. ▫ Second Hand
Thu Jul 19 2018
18:15 • 1 PWS Dolphins playing, off Elk Point, Discovery Passage.
10:30 • PWS Dolphins moving quickly, heading west towards Turn Island from the end of Nodales Channel, Johnstone Strait. Large pod with 100s of dolphins.
Wed Jul 18 2018
16:36 • est. 15 PWS Dolphins in Humpback Bay, Johnstone Strait.
12:48 • PWS Dolphins near the fish farm off Sonora Island, Nodales Channel. Small group.
DALLS PORPOISE
Sat Jul 21 2018
10:04 • Dalls Porpoise off Denham Islet, Dent Rapids.
Fri Jul 20 2018
10:52 • Dalls Porpoise near the fish farm off Sonora Island, Nodales Channel. Small group.
Thu Jul 19 2018
06:30 • Dalls Porpoise playing, at the west end of Chancellor Channel. Being very playful.
Jess Cavanagh, Blind Channel Resort
HARBOUR PORPOISE
Sat Jul 21 2018
08:25 • 1 Harbour Porpoise off Grismond Point, Loughborough Inlet.
Jess Cavanagh, Blind Channel Resort

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The Magazine
REGIONAL
Orcas have returned to Puget Sound, and they’ve never faced a bigger menace
The Seattle Times, WA
A little more than a week ago, Howard Garrett’s network of 14,000 water watchers finally scored the sighting that was keeping him up nights.

"They’re back!" was how the report began.

Someone had seen some of the K pod of orcas off the west coast of the San Juan Islands. It was the first sighting in the inland waters since March of this smallest group of the highly endangered southern resident orcas…. The National Marine Fisheries Service had previously said it would extend the orca-habitat protections by 2017, but it still hasn’t done so….

"That they’re choosing now to weaken the Endangered Species Act is just going to make it even slower and harder to get critical habitat protection for the whales," said Brett Hartl of the Center for Biological Diversity, an environmental group. "Given the orcas’ precarious position, it’s terrible news for them."

The U.S. House of Representatives isn’t helping. It recently passed a farm bill (renamed the "harm bill" by environmentalists) that would incredibly allow the spraying of pesticides into the water without a permit. Orcas are known to absorb pesticides and other chemicals such as flame retardants into their fatty tissues.

Overall, the orcas are believed to be slowly starving to death, due to a decline in their main food, king salmon. Garrett’s "doom and gloom" view is that we’re not only not doing enough to save them, we’re now actively going backward.

"I don’t see any consensus developing to make the hard choices to bring them back," he said. "With the Trump administration now pulling the rug out from under us, it’s all leading to paralysis, at exactly the wrong moment."

There’s a different kind of damage, of loss, that can be irreversible. It gets nowhere near the attention of our daily political drama. It’s Howard Garrett’s worst worry – that one summer, maybe sooner than not if we don’t snap out of it, the orcas are never coming back….
read on

Cetacean answers await during Whale Watch Weekend
Lincoln City, OR
The American Cetacean Society of Oregon (ACS) is hosting its Seventh Annual Summer Whale Watch Weekend on July 28 and 29, 2018 at Boiler Bay State Park, Depoe Bay. This family friendly event is free and open to the public.

ACS volunteer members and Certified Naturalists will be on hand from 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. both days to help with whale watching and spotting other wildlife. The volunteers will offer information on whales, dolphins, porpoises and their habitats….
read on

NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL
DFO Gulf of St. Lawrence fishing closure after recent right whale sightings
Global News,
The Canadian Press
The Department of Fisheries and Oceans has announced another fishing closure in Atlantic Canada after two North Atlantic right whales were spotted in the Bay of Fundy.

They say an area in the Grand Manan Basin – a critical habitat area for the endangered species – will be closed to fishing beginning Sunday at 6 p.m.

The closure will remain in effect until further notice, with affected fisheries including groundfish species, herring, mackerel and lobster.

On Friday, the DFO announced four other closures in the Gulf of St. Lawrence as part of its right whale conservation efforts.

Fishing gear can pose a big risk to whales as entanglement can prevent them from eating or swimming.

READ MORE: Canada announces additional fishery closures after more Right Whales spotted

An entangled right whale was spotted last Friday in the southern Gulf of St. Lawrence, but fisheries officials have not been able to locate it despite extensive searches in the water and the air….
read on

Nuclear Bomb Sensors Eavesdrop on Whales
Scientific American, US
The underwater hydrophone network of the Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO) was designed to listen for massive explosions, but its sonic sensors more often pick up the peaceful rumblings of the world’s largest animals. Now scientists are exploiting this unique data set to estimate fin whale population sizes and movements, which could improve the species’ uncertain conservation prospects….
read on

Cape Town: Incredible photos of whales and dolphins splashing around in the city’s waters
The South African, SA
Whale watching season is in full flow in Cape Town (roughly from June to November), but you don’t have to go on a massive trek to spot these beasts.

If you have the time and patience or, if you’re a bit lucky, you might get to see them loafing around the Atlantic Seaboard.

If you’re as lucky as local photographer Mike, you might see whales and dolphins within a few days of each other.

The southern right whale, humpback whale and the Bryde’s whale are the most commonly sighted on South Africa’s Western Cape coast….
read on

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