@OrcaConservancy

Orca Conservancy takes on the most critical issues now facing wild killer whales.

 Seattle, Washington
orcaconservancy.org
Joined April 2011
  • Tweets10K
  • Following586
  • Followers9.9K
543Media
Orca Conservancy retweeted
CHEK News
@CHEK_NewsOct 7
Researchers recorded another southern resident killer whale (SRKW) carrying a dead newborn calf off the waters of Vancouver Island, echoing a behaviour that made headlines over the past decade. cheknews.ca/another-southern…

Another southern resident killer whale spotted carrying dead calf

Researchers recorded another southern resident killer whale (SRKW) carrying a dead newborn calf off the waters of Vancouver Island, echoing a behaviour that made headlines over the past decade.

cheknews.ca
3
26
3
55
2,414
We at Orca Conservancy believe that scientific research is key to driving meaningful policy, and as we continue to expand our initiatives, we are excited to share the research we have been contributing to, and how it will aid our ongoing conservation efforts.
3
14
54
879
more replies
In order to conduct our research, including processing samples and publish open-access papers, we need your support to make this possible! We are looking to raise a total of $50,000 to cover lab fees, sample processing, equipment, publishing fees, and more.
2
1
4
129
Chloe Kotik processing biopsy samples, photographed by Fred DeNisco
45
Chloe Kotik in the field, photographed by Jared Towers, approach distance permitted under DFO MML-01
12
You can support our research by making a donation on at our Research Hub! All donations made in this section are exclusively designated for our scientific research and keeping our work accessible. orcaconservancy.org/research

Research — Orca Conservancy

orcaconservancy.org
4
Orca Conservancy retweeted
NOAA Fisheries@NOAAFisheriesOct 1
We released a new report on large whale entanglements confirmed in the United States in 2025. There were 76 confirmed large whale entanglement cases that year—similar to the historical average and a decrease from 2024. bit.ly/3VbIWMW
A humpback whale entangled in monofilament gillnet and floats off the coast of Monterey, California. Credit: Isaiah Foulks, Discovery Whale Watch

ALT A humpback whale entangled in monofilament gillnet and floats off the coast of Monterey, California. Credit: Isaiah Foulks, Discovery Whale Watch

Responders from Georgia Department of Natural Resources use a specialized knife to safely cut gear on a North Atlantic right whale off the coast of Georgia in December 2025. Credit: Clearwater Marine Aquarium Research Institute survey funded by NOAA Fisheries and Georgia Department of Natural Resources.

ALT Responders from Georgia Department of Natural Resources use a specialized knife to safely cut gear on a North Atlantic right whale off the coast of Georgia in December 2025. Credit: Clearwater Marine Aquarium Research Institute survey funded by NOAA Fisheries and Georgia Department of Natural Resources.

2
6
21
968
Orca Conservancy retweeted
KIRO 7
@KIRO7SeattleSep 18
New orca calf officially has a name kiro7.com/news/local/new-orc…
1
5
1
22
2,831
The wait is over! 🎉 The ‘Southern Resident Eye Parch Guide’ now available for digital download & preorder. Get your free digital download, or pre-order the booklet today ⬇️ orcaconservancy.org/eye-patc…
1
5
2
11
602
more replies
We’ve selected the clearest eyepatch photos available from our catalog & what has been submitted, and formatted them to best preserved detail while highlighting each wheels unique features. If a high-quality photo isn’t available, we’ve included an substitute eyepatch graphic.
1
1
29
Thank you to all the Orca Conservancy staff and board, along with community photographers who contributed their time and photographs to make the complete guide possible.
1
33
J63 officially has a name! Meet Ts’ele7álhse, which means “the heart of the Salish Sea” in Coast Salish. The name was chosen by the Samish Nation and announced at their naming ceremony on September 6, 2026.
1
22
5
70
1,555
Unlike most of the Southern Residents, who receive nicknames through a public vote hosted by The Whale Museum, the J14 matriline is named by the Samish Indian Nation. The tradition began as the matriarch J14 (deceased), was named Samish after the tribe.
7
103
We had the opportunity to spend some time with Northern Resident Killer Whales, and here is one of our favorite looks: The A34s grouped up tightly together after evading a large group of Pacific White Sided Dolphins 📷 Kendra Nelson | Board Secretary
1
8
29
514
We believe that the interconnectivity of the habitats, along with the fact that many of the salmon stocks the Southern Residents depend on pass through Northern Resident habitat, what bodes well for the Northerns will be beneficial to the endangered Southern Residents.
3
86
Great turnout folks! 🫍🌲 Orca Conservancy’s Board Secretary Kendra Nelson spoke at the hearing to protect the lands around the Cable Bay Trail from heavy industrial rezoning. Read more from @CHEK_News
CHEK News
@CHEK_NewsApr 18
The debate over a contentious rezoning proposal came to a head Thursday night at Nanaimo council, with what may have been a record crowd for the public hearing. cheknews.ca/nanaimo-sees-nea…

Nanaimo sees near-record turnout for Cable Bay public hearing

Hundreds of people attended a public hearing in Nanaimo to give their input on a proposed land rezoning by Harmac Pacific near Cable Bay

cheknews.ca
3
1
5
421
Load more