This month we witnessed a tragedy that is becoming all too common in the Northwest: a mother orca carrying her deceased calf in the Salish Sea. Southern Resident orca Alki was seen pushing her newborn’s body in Rosario Strait September 12. This heartbreaking image mirrors Tahlequah's two "tours of grief" in 2018 and earlier this year.

While we do not know exactly why Alki’s calf died, the science is extremely clear about the greatest threat to the Southern Residents' survival - lack of salmon. Without bold and urgent actions to ramp up restoration of Chinook salmon populations, their primary prey, these critically endangered whales are headed for extinction within our lifetimes.

Write to your representatives today and urge them to prioritize Columbia Basin salmon restoration for the Southern Resident orcas.

WHY THIS MATTERS:

• Columbia and Snake River Chinook salmon runs are a vital food source for the Southern Residents. Yet, Snake River Spring/Summer and Fall Chinook populations, as well as Upper Columbia Chinook, all remain listed under the Endangered Species Act, with annual returns falling over 98% below their historical numbers.

• The Southern Residents' risk of extinction is increasing. A 2024 study warned that current salmon recovery efforts are not sufficient to halt their decline. For these orcas to survive, we need to pull out all the stops on salmon recovery -- up to and including removal of the lower Snake River dams.
  
  
• Since the Trump Administration cancelled the Resilient Columbia Basin Agreement, there is no federal plan to restore Columbia Basin salmon and steelhead. The Columbia Basin Restoration Initiative (CBRI) provides a way forward for the entire region, but we need congressional support to make it a success.

Your voice matters. Stand up for the Northwest's most iconic and beloved species today.

Thank you for taking action!