Unlike other orcas, the genetically distinct Southern Residents don’t eat marine mammals or sharks or rays—they’ve got a serious salmon habit. And as Tahlequa’s loss has recently made very clear, withdrawal is a death sentence.

SOUTHERN RESIDENTS RELY ON SALMON FROM THE SNAKE RIVER 

80% of these orcas’ diet is salmon, and more than 50% of that diet comes from Columbia Basin, including the Snake River. The average orca needs about 20 salmon—385 pounds—per day. That means the Southern Residents have to collectively catch 1400 salmon every day, some 500,000 a year.

“Perhaps the single greatest change in food availability for resident killer whales since the late 1800s has been the decline of salmon from the Columbia River basin… Returns during the 1990s averaged only 1.1 million salmon, representing a decline of 90 percent or more from historical levels.” – NOAA 

THE SOUTHERN RESIDENT ORCAS ARE STARVING 

75.  That’s how many Southern Resident orcas are alive—the lowest count in the Center for Whale Research’s census since 1984.

26.  That’s the estimated breeding population.

0.  That’s how many orca calves have survived in the past 3 years.

Malnourished mamas pass toxins from their blubber to unhealthy babies. That’s why Tahlequah (J35) lost hers and why Scarlet (J50), the last surviving birth, appears to be dying before our eyes. NOAA’s desperate measures to save her show what’s at stake—but such short-term strategies aren’t enough.

“We’ve got at most 5 more years of reproductive life in this population to make it happen, but if we don’t do it in those 5 years it isn’t going to happen“ – Ken Balcomb, Center for Whale Research

RIVER RESTORATION WOULD SERVE UP SALMON IN TIME TO SAVE THE SOUTHERN RESIDENTS FROM EXTINCTION 

If we don’t want to lose more orcas, we need a whole lot more salmon. Within 5 years. The only way to reach those numbers is to make substantial changes and make them quickly. We must restore the Snake River by breaching the dams—before it’s too late to bring the Southern Residents back from the brink.

SO WHY HAVEN’T GOVERNOR INSLEE AND SENATORS CANTWELL AND MURRAY DECLARED SUPPORT FOR THE IMMEDIATE REMOVAL OF MONEY-LOSING, SALMON-KILLING, ORCA-STARVING DAMS?

Let’s ask ’em:

Governor Jay Inslee

Call (360) 902-4111 or write him on Twitter or send an email

Senator Maria Cantwell

Call (206) 220-6400 or write her on Twitter or send an email

Senator Patty Murray 

Call (206) 553-5545 or write her on Twitter or send an email