Save Salmon, Give Endangered Orcas a Fighting Chance

Southern Resident orcas are in crisis, with fewer than 75 left. Recently, J36, also known as Alki, was seen mourning her lost calf — while her sister, J42, also known as Echo, welcomed a healthy newborn. This powerful mix of heartbreak and hope shows just how urgently we must restore salmon runs so these endangered whales can survive for generations to come.

Columbia and Snake River salmon once returned in the millions, feeding communities, cultures, and ecosystems across the region. Today, their populations have plummeted. This decline is devastating not only for people and wildlife who rely on salmon, but especially for the Southern Resident orcas, who depend on Columbia Basin salmon as a primary food source during the winter.

The urgency of recovery recently became heartbreakingly clear. On September 12, researchers witnessed Alki pushing the body of her dead calf through the waters of Puget Sound. This was a grim reminder of the despair felt by J35, also known as Tahlequah, who gained worldwide attention in 2018 for carrying her dead calf for 17 days, swimming over 1,000 miles in what was widely interpreted as an act of mourning. 

Just days later, her sister Echo was seen with a newborn calf, offering a glimmer of hope. These two events — one tragic, one perilously hopeful – highlight the stakes of inaction. Orcas cannot survive without salmon.

That’s why Congress must fund the Columbia Basin Restoration Initiative. This bold plan is designed to restore abundant salmon populations, invest in tribal and community priorities, and ensure a future where both salmon and orcas can thrive. Without immediate action, we risk losing these whales forever.

The Southern Residents don’t have time to wait. Every lost calf, every dwindling salmon run pushes them closer to extinction. But with strong leadership and real investment, we can turn the tide.

Please sign the petition urging Congress to fund the Columbia Basin Restoration Initiative. Saving salmon means saving orcas and protecting the natural heritage of the Pacific Northwest for generations to come.
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Sources

KUOW News https://www.kuow.org/stories/newborn-baby-orca-spotted-with-northwest-s-endangered-j-pod/

CBS News https://www.cbsnews.com/news/endangered-orca-j36-dead-calf-washington/