Orcas in Puget Sound: In 2018, the world watched as Tahlequah, a Southern Resident Killer Whale, carried her dead calf for 17 days, travelling almost 1,000 miles off the Pacific Northwest coast before letting go. Tahlequah isn’t the first grieving orca mother—unfortunately, hers was one of many calf deaths across the past two decades. According to the Center for Whale Research, approximately 75 percent of newborns in the Southern Resident killer whale population have not survived. 

Orcas rely on their main food source, the endangered Chinook salmon, to survive. Due to habitat loss, climate change and increased pollution, it has become even more difficult for migrating salmon to make the journey home to create new fish. In order to save our orcas, we must start with our salmon. With just over 70 individual orcas left, we must act now if we’re going to save the most iconic species of the Pacific Northwest.

What is Orca Recovery Day? Conservation Districts around the state along with dozens of non-profit and agency partners are proud to provide folks the chance to take action on this critical issue. With dozens of different restoration and educational activities all around Washington to choose from, you’ll have a chance to get involved in the recovery of our local Orcas.

For more information: Contact Hannah at hannahm@greatpeninsula.org or (360) 373-3500

Brought to you by: Great Peninsula Conservancy