Marine & Coastal

Wild Orca Southern Resident Welfare Crisis

The critically endangered Southern Resident orca population faces a welfare and conservation crisis driven by prey depletion.

Key Facts

The Southern Resident orca population numbers approximately 73 individuals as of 2026
Chinook salmon depletion is the primary driver of population decline and individual welfare problems
Nutritional stress causes reproductive failure and increased vulnerability to disease and toxins
PCB and other contaminant loads are among the highest of any marine mammal population
Vessel noise and disturbance disrupts echolocation hunting in already food-limited waters

Welfare Considerations

Southern Resident orcas experience chronic nutritional stress that causes gradual debilitation, unsuccessful reproduction and premature death. Individual orcas show visible signs of nutritional stress including sunken post-rostral pockets. Addressing salmon availability requires major dam removal and fisheries management changes over many years.

What You Can Do

Support dam removal campaigns on the Snake River to restore Chinook salmon runs
Advocate for vessel-free zones and speed limits in critical Southern Resident habitat
Reduce consumption of Pacific salmon to support prey availability
Donate to Center for Whale Research and Orca Conservancy monitoring and advocacy