Image Image Credit Katie Jones Orca Katie Jones Southern resident orcas are a unique population of orcas in the Pacific Northwest that are genetically and behaviorally distinct from other killer whales. Due to declines of their primary prey, chinook salmon, the southern resident population has been decreasing for years. Large dams, like those on the Snake River, and the destruction of salmon habitat have caused salmon stocks throughout the Northwest to either plummet or vanish, leaving orcas with less and less to eat. Today, these orcas are slowly starving to death. On a collision course with extinction, southern residents are also dealing with noise from ship traffic and toxic pollution. Underwater noise from boats disrupt the orcas’ echolocation and pollution from old vessels and stormwater runoff contaminate the salmon that the orcas eat. As the whales eat these polluted salmon, they accumulate toxic chemicals in their bodies, which can make them sick. Defenders' Impact Defenders advocates to remove the four lower Snake River dams, which would restore a critical salmon run. We also work to secure funding for critical state and federal programs like the Pacific Coast Salmon Recovery Fund and the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Geographic Area Program that protect and restore salmon habitat and water quality. Defenders launched a new coexistence program in 2017 called Orcas Love Raingardens. The goal of this program is to promote raingardens at public schools and parks to reduce the amount of polluted stormwater reaching our local waterways, salmon, and orcas. These raingardens are a wonderful opportunity to familiarize residents and students in communities without regular access to the outdoors with orcas, salmon and the connections between humans and ecosystems. We advance science-based solutions as a member of several state-level initiatives, such as Governor Inslee’s Southern Resident Killer Whale Task Force and the Puget Sound Partnership’s Stormwater Strategic Initiative Advisory Team. Threats & Status What You Can Do Facts Range & Population Behavior & Reproduction Threats The three main threats to southern resident orcas are lack of prey (chinook salmon), toxic pollution and disturbance from vessels. Protection Status Endangered Species Act IUCN Red List Endangered Not Listed The southern resident distinct population segment (DPS) is listed as endangered. Southern resident orcas are data deficient under the IUCN red list. Image ADOPT AN ORCA Your adoption helps support our work to ensure that these icons of the Salish Sea are protected by addressing the three major threats to their survival: prey availability, toxic pollution, and noise disturbance. ADOPT NOW News Image SEATTLE, WASH. NOVEMBER 1, 2021 WA Governor, Senator Announce Process to Assess Feasibility of Lower Snake River Dam Removal In a joint statement, Washington Gov. Jay Inslee and Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA) recently laid out a new plan to combine state and federal resources to assess the impacts and costs of breaching the four lower Snake River dams. VISIT THE NEWSROOM Orca Blog Posts Image JULY 22, 2021 Watching Wildlife: Celebrating Latino Conservation Week and Getting Out Into Nature Image APRIL 13, 2021 Restoring the Most Endangered River Image MARCH 3, 2021 Pacific Northwest Forests: Sustaining Wildlife, People and the Planet VISIT THE BLOG Image Publications Buoying Washington State's Response to Abandoned and Derelict Vessels Connecting the Dots: Orcas, Salmon and Toxic Chemicals in the Salish Sea Related Regions Northwest Related Issues Conserving Imperiled Species Protecting Habitat Speaking for Wildlife Read More About the Orca Coexisting with Orcas Coexistence Overview Wildlife and Wild Places Image Wetlands and Rivers Image Pacific Salmon Image Coasts and Intertidal Zones Image Oceans Image Get Alerts & Updates facebook twitter instagram youtube medium pinterest Footer menu ABOUT US FAQ DEFENDERS MAGAZINE PUBLICATIONS JOBS & INTERNSHIPS CONTACT US 1130 17th Street NW Washington, DC 20036 1-800-385-9712 © 2021 Defenders of Wildlife Terms of Use Privacy Policy Accessibility Statement How Funds Are Used 97% 97% of our funds go towards program and support services, with only 3% going towards fundraising. We are using cookies to give you the best experience on our website. By continuing to browse, you agree to the use of cookies. Cookie Policy. OK