Southern Resident Killer Whales

• ‘High probability of extinction’: Urgent plea for action to save southern resident orcas

  A new report says a population of endangered killer whales off the coast of British Columbia and Washington state is showing no sign of recovery under the current conditions.

  Environment

  Jul 7, 2025
  
• Marine speed limits in B.C. aim to protect endangered orcas

  The federal government has announced salmon fishery closures and mandatory speed limits in areas where southern resident killer whales forage and travel.

  Environment

  Jun 3, 2024
  
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• New federal rules aim to protect endangered orcas, but do they go far enough?

  The federal government has announced measures ranging from sanctuary zones to fishing closures meant to protect critically endangered southern resident killer orcas.

  Environment

  Apr 26, 2023
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• ‘Unheard of’: The plan to bring Lolita the orca, captive for 50 years, back to Puget Sound

  It is expected it will take 18 to 24 months to relocate Lolita, who is also known as Tokitae or Toki, from the Miami facility back to the northwestern coast of the U.S.

  Environment

  Mar 30, 2023
• Inbreeding contributes to southern resident killer whale’s low population growth: study

  Southern resident killer whales had the highest levels of inbreeding of five North Pacific killer whale populations analyzed by researchers.

  Environment

  Mar 24, 2023
• Spill from sunken U.S. fish boat off Victoria raises concern for endangered orcas

  The Aleutian Isle vessel is under about 30 metres of water off San Juan Island, roughly 25 kilometres east of Victoria. It sank with nearly 10,000 litres of diesel and oil aboard.

  Environment

  Aug 15, 2022
• Southern resident killer whales missing out on thousands of needed daily calories, study finds

  The average difference between the amount of energy the whales spent and the amount they could access is 28,716 calories, University of British Columbia research suggests.

  Environment

  Jun 27, 2022
• Ottawa urged to pause proposed B.C. port expansion

  A plan to build a new shipping container terminal the size of nearly 144 football fields at a major Metro Vancouver port has sparked a rival proposal along with concerns for endangered orcas and the salmon they depend on.

  Environment

  Mar 13, 2022
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• Endangered southern resident killer whale presumed dead: expert

  The endangered southern resident killer whale population may have suffered more loss with one of the orcas presumed dead, says an expert.

  Environment

  Aug 7, 2021
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• U.S. study links presence of vessels to endangered orca feeding habits

  Researchers found the southern resident orcas made fewer and shorter feeding dives when boats came within a certain distance, an effect that was more pronounced among females.

  Environment

  Jan 21, 2021