Saving a Species: Southern Resident Killer Whales

Species: Southern Resident Killer Whales

Scientific Name: Orcinus Orca
Length: Up to 32 feet
Weight: Up to 22,000 pounds
Status: Endangered (77 wild left, 78 including Lolita)
Location: Puget Sound, Strait of Juan de Fuca & Strait of Georgia

Photo: NOAA

About the Southern Resident Killer Whales

The story of the Southern Resident Killer Whales (SRKW) is a rather complicated one. Unlike some other endangered species that has one significant threat, like fishing nets with the Vaquita, the SRKW has faced a plethora of challenges over the past one hundred years. In the early days of commercial fishing, the orcas were hunted because the fishermen saw the whales as a threat to their means of economic sustenance: salmon. Ironically, one of the major threats to the survival of the SRKW is not their hunting of salmon, but humanity's. It was not until the 1970s that scientists had anything close to an accurate estimate of their population, however there were once though to be upwards of 200 members of the SRKW. Today, that number is just 77 individuals (78, including Lolita, who has lived at Miami Seaquarium since 1970). In 2015, NOAA included Lolita in the endangered species list, since she was wild-caught and a member of one of the three pods that comprise the SRKW: J pod, K pod and L pod. 

Threats

This is where things get a little complicated. One aspect that is frequently blamed for a rapid reduce in the population was the live-captures of the 1960s and 1970s off the coast of Washington State which removed 47 individuals. Along with Lolita, some other notable captures from the Pacific Northwest include Corky (who currently lives at SeaWorld San Diego) and Winston (who mated with Katina to father the first successful calf born in captivity, Kalina, in 1985). By the time the United States government banned that capture of wild orcas, the SRKW population was cut to just 67 individuals in 1971. However, over the next 20 years the population recovered, peaking at 97 individuals in 1995. Since then, the population has once again been in decline. In the first eight months of 2017 alone, two more orcas have died: J2 (aka Granny) and K13 (aka Skagit). 

So what then, is going on with the Southern Residents? The Center for Whale Research lists the following as the main threats of the SRKW: reduced number and compromised health of the Chinook Salmon, which comprises as much as 95% of their diet. Additionally,  high levels of chemical contaminants such as biochemicals, PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls) such as flame retardants. The other major threat is sound pollution which disrupts the orcas' ability to echolocate, their primary means of hunting. Not to mention the potential for oil spills which could damage the habitat of the Southern Residents and their prey beyond recovery. In April of 2017, President Trump signed an executive order that aims to expand off-shore drilling in both the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans and potentially in marine sactuaries, a move that goes against almost every piece environmental protection legislature from the past 15 years. 

What Scientists Are Doing

In 2006, NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) listed the SRKW as endangered, and a recovery plan was launched (Killer Whales as a whole are listed as Data Deficient (DD) by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)). A final recovery plan was published by NOAA in 2008, which includes measures to protect and restore salmon population, clean up contaminated sights, prevent oil spills and continue research to name a few (a summary of the conservation measures can be found on the bottom of the page from this link). See also: NOAA Species in the Spotlight: Priority Actions 2016-2020, Southern Resident Killer Whales).

How You Can Help

One great way to help is to donate directly to the Center for Whale Research, as they, along with NOAA, are the primary ones in the field conducting research. To report a whale sighting, email info@whaleresearch.com to share your information directly with the Center for Whale Research.

A great way for you to help is simply to raise awareness of the plight of the Southern Resident Killer Whales. When people think of endangered species, they think of Pandas, Elephants, and most recently, the Vaquita which are all great causes. And while immediate action is required to save the Vaquita, which is estimated to have only around 30 individuals left, there are only 77 Southern Residents left. People don't always think about the ocean's top predator as endangered. 

Additionally, Orca Network has a great list of resources and everyday conservation ideas.

It might not seem like much, but the tiniest ripple can spread and grow and make a really big splash! 

Author's Note

One source used in research for this post was Orca Network. While I disagree with their views on captivity and their efforts to release Lolita into the wild, if we are going to save animals in the wild, we must all put aside out political differences and focus on what we can do to help wild orcas. So much attention has been drawn to the deaths of three captive orcas at SeaWorld this year (Tilikum, Kyara and Kasatka, two of which were adults who reached their average life span and one who died in the first year of her life. Orca calves have a very poor success rate both in captivity and in the wild), but hardly anyone knew about the passing of J2 and K13. K13 in particular was the matriarch of the K pod, and her death will cause a disturbance in the social order or the K pod. SeaWorld has already announced that the 22 orcas currently in their care will be their last. Once the last whale dies, will the public stop caring about orcas? In this day in age, we desperately need to focus on conservation and while SeaWorld's orcas will eventually fade into the twilight of history, is it essential that we don't allow the same to happen with their wild counterparts. 

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Sources: NOAA, Center for Whale Research, The Washington Post, Orca Network, OrcaPod Wiki