Three Southern Resident orcas passed away this year

In September, Washingtonians were greeted with a pleasant surprise: a new Southern Resident orca baby. This is much needed good news for struggling Southern Resident orcas – a distinct population of orcas which frequent the Salish Sea and surrounding area and behave different than other populations.

However, according to a new update from The Center for Whale Research, their total population is 74: a decrease from a July 2023 survey. Southern Resident orcas eat almost exclusively Chinook salmon, which over the past several decades have decreased substantially in numbers in the Pacific Northwest, primarily because of a lack of access to their spawning grounds in higher altitude streams and rivers.

Although the newborn’s birth is good news, we’re out of the woods yet. Just last December, another orca baby was born however it only survived for a month or so. If Chinook salmon are not made more available to these animals we risk losing them forever. Right now, we know the most effective way to restore salmon runs in the region would be to breach four dams found along the Lower Snake River. These are impeding salmon from reaching pristine areas in the headwaters of the Snake River, and if we’re to save orcas we first need to save salmon.

We’re calling on our elected officials to speak out in support of breaching the dams, and if you want Southern Resident orcas to stand a chance of survival you can join us in doing so.