Posts by Colleen Weiler
New babies bring hope for orcas on the edge of extinction
A silver lining of this strange year was the news that Tahlequah, the orca who touched hearts worldwide two years ago as she mourned the loss of her newborn calf, was pregnant again. Now we are celebrating two new babies in the population… If you are able to make a donation, it will help us…
Read MoreCanada announces 2019 plans to protect North Atlantic right whales
February 7, 2019: Canada’s Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) announced their 2019 management measures to reduce risk to North Atlantic right whales in Canadian waters. In 2017, 17 right whales were found dead, 12 of them in a span of just three months in Atlantic Canada. Investigations into those deaths revealed the leading causes…
Read MoreAnother dolphin dies at Dolphinaris Arizona
Another dolphin has died at Dolphinaris Arizona, the fourth death in less than two years at the controversial marine park. Just one month after the loss of Khloe, a young female bottlenose dolphin, the park announced the death of Kai, a 22-year-old male. According to Dolphinaris, Kai started showing signs of illness two weeks ago,…
Read MoreCanada takes steps to phase out Atlantic salmon fish farms
Atlantic salmon net pens in the Pacific Northwest are a major threat to the native wild salmon that are a vital food source for both the Northern and Southern Resident orca populations. These net pens can spread lethal parasites and viruses to wild salmon, are a significant source of pollution, and the nets themselves can…
Read MoreCanada expands critical habitat for at-risk orca populations
Last week, Canada’s Department of Fisheries and Oceans made an expansion of critical habitat for both the Northern and Southern Resident orca populations official. Like in the U.S., a critical habitat designation recognizes that an area with certain features is vital for the survival of an endangered species, and protects designated areas from activities that…
Read MoreUS Senate wants to kill nearly 1,000 sea lions a year
I have sad news to share – the US Senate has just passed legislation that will allow nearly 1,000 sea lions to be killed each year in the Columbia River that borders Washington and Oregon states. The bill has already passed the House of Representatives, and is now on its way to becoming law. We’ve…
Read MoreNew actions announced in Canada to protect Southern Resident orcas
In response to a court-ordered review of the environmental impacts of the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion and to a petition submitted by environmental groups in January 2018, the Canadian government has announced new measures to help protect the endangered Southern Resident orcas. These actions are part of the $167.4 million (CAD) Whales Initiative that Canada…
Read MoreFederal appeals court rejects petition to reopen case for captive-held orca Tokitae
In disappointing news, a Federal appeals court has rejected a petition from conservation groups to reopen a lawsuit over the Miami Seaquarium’s treatment of Tokitae (also called Lolita), the last surviving Southern Resident orca held in captivity. This is a blow to the latest court effort to free Tokitae from the Seaquarium and retire her…
Read MoreNorwegian orca Morgan gives birth at Loro Parque
Tenerife, Spain – Wild-caught Norwegian orca Morgan, now held at Loro Parque in the Canary Islands, Spain, gave birth on September 22nd to her first calf. The park announced Morgan’s pregnancy in December 2017, just weeks after SeaWorld ended their association with Loro Parque, essentially abandoning the six orcas that had previously been included in…
Read MoreGood news and bad news in endangered Southern Resident orca population
After a heartbreaking summer for the critically endangered Southern Resident orca population, new information from the ongoing aerial photogrammetry program, a joint effort between the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Vancouver Aquarium, and SR3 (Sealife Response, Rehabilitation, and Research), has raised new concerns for the community. Photographs taken with drones can show the body…
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