Southern Resident Orcas—killer whales—are critically endangered and on the brink of extinction. Fewer than 80 remain. They often are starving.
Background. The Snake River runs from Yellowstone Park in Wyoming to eastern Washington, where it joins the Columbia River. At more than 1000 miles long, it is the Columbia’s largest tributary. Historically, the Snake River produced millions of salmon that sustained orcas, humans and many other species. Now the outdated and expensive lower Snake River dams are damming wild salmon and the Southern Resident Orcas to extinction.
By now, many have heard the tragic story of J35 Tahlequah. As one of the remaining reproductive mothers, she is important to the Southern Resident Orca clan. But in the last decade, at least two of her calves have failed to survive. One died in 2018. Then another died in 2024. Her losses were felt around the world during her “tours of grief.” She carried her dead babies at the waters' surface for many days and miles, before she let them slip forever into the deep. Lack of prey likely played a key role in their deaths.
You can help. Let those in power know that you support breaching the four salmon-killing lower Snake River dams to restore a free flowing river and the salmon that have nourished these orcas for millennia.
Watch Tahlequah's Story to learn more, and then act on her and her extended family's behalf before it's too late for them all.
Your role? Reach out to Washington Senators Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell, and if not from Washington State, your state’s U.S. Senators and Representatives. Links to their contact forms are provided when selecting one of the buttons below.
In a tragic and predictable turn, Tahlequah's nightmare happened again.
In late December 2024, her newborn calf J61 struggled and died soon after birth. Again, she carried it at the surface, unwilling to let it go — another heartbreaking loss. Lack of nutrition, specifically chinook salmon, is a major risk factor for all, and particularly pregnant, Southern Resident Orcas.
Will you please sign our petition. And be the one to Push it to over a MILLION signatures You could be the one to push it over a MILLION signatures by joining over 933,000 to date. Surely those in power can be moved to act. Encouragement from the public is powerful incentive for responsible leaders. It can give them a reason to act. Please share this link.
DamTRUTH and the Southern Resident Killer Whale Chinook Salmon Initiative promote chinook salmon abundance for endangered Southern Resident Killer Whales’ survival and recovery.
NOURISH
FOLLOW US
Billions of public dollars have been spent over four decades trying to overcome the salmon-killing design of the four lower Snake River dams. Nothing has worked. Salmon cannot wait any longer. To prevent extinction, the dams must be breached now.