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Shared Sorrow – loss in the Southern Resident orcas

Shared Sorrow – loss in the Southern Resident orcas

Last Wednesday night (August 8th), my heart sank as I read my messages: Tahlequah (J35) was spotted near the Olympic Peninsula off the coast of Washington State, still carrying the body of her dead daughter, 15 days after her birth (and death).  I hoped it was somehow not true – an old sighting confused with…

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Experts try to save sick Southern Resident orca Scarlet (J50)

An unprecedented attempt has been launched in the Pacific Northwest to save ailing Southern Resident orca Scarlet (J50), a young female who has been in poor condition throughout the summer.  The Fisheries Department of the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), in partnership with Canada’s Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO), the Center for…

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What we can do to save Southern Resident orcas

We’ve been hearing from many of you that you’re heartbroken about the loss of a newborn calf in the critically endangered Southern Resident orca community – we are, too.  It’s hard to put into words what it feels like to watch this tragedy unfold – sadness for the whales, angry at delayed action to save…

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Endangered Southern Resident orca loses newborn calf

In heartbreaking news from the Pacific Northwest, the Center for Whale Research has reported that a newborn calf has died less than an hour after being born.  On Tuesday July 24th, the Center observed a new calf born in the endangered Southern Resident orca population to a member of J pod, Tahlequah (J35), a 20-year-old…

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U.S. Defense Bill weakens protections for whales

24 July 2018, Plymouth, MA: The FY2019 National Defense Authorization Act conference report was released by Congress yesterday, and it’s not great news for whales.  The report includes a rider that weakens provisions in the US Marine Mammal Protection Act, but not to the extent the original rider had proposed.  This NDAA will extend the…

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New actions in the Northwest to help Southern Resident orcas and salmon

As the Washington State Task Force starts to examine threats to the endangered Southern Resident orca population and outline potential measures to protect the orcas and their primary prey, Chinook salmon, new actions for the summer season have been introduced on both sides of the border. New voluntary vessel guidelines and area closures have begun…

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Tokitae Totem Pole Journey reaches Miami Seaquarium

The Lummi Totem Pole journey for Tokitae reached its final stop at the Miami Seaquarium last month, but tribal members and fellow protesters, including Orca Network, were not allowed to enter the marine park.  The Lummi Nation of Washington State traveled more than 3,000 miles cross-country from Seattle to Miami to raise awareness for Tokitae…

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Lawsuit launched to protect Southern Resident orcas' coastal habitat

Following their 2014 petition to revise federally-designated critical habitat for the endangered Southern Resident orca population, the Center for Biological Diversity (CBD) has filed a legal notice demanding the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) take action to protect the orcas’ ocean habitat off California, Oregon, and Washington.  The notice points out the unlawful delay by…

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