Orca Conservancy

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

[Orca Conservancy @OrcaConservancy]

This Giving Season, we hope you consider donating to help us reach our goal of $10,000 for the critically endangered Southern Resident killer whales

With your help, we can continue our work & expand initiatives. But we can’t do it without your help!

https://t.co/Z5yFvytvo9

[Orca Conservancy @OrcaConservancy]

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_News]

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.
https://t.co/Mog830NqLP

[Orca Conservancy @OrcaConservancy]

Photo: J37 Hy'Shqa and members of J Pod swimming by onlookers in Dodd Narrows, BC, Canada. Taken by Kendra Nelson, Board Secretary

[Orca Conservancy @OrcaConservancy]

‼️ Alright, Canada!

Here is a thread with two few Action Alerts for you to help protect the critically endangered Southern Resident killer whales (SRKWs) & important habitat in British Columbia!

[Orca Conservancy @OrcaConservancy]

2. Attend or submit a comment online for the public hearing to protect Cable Bay and Dodd Narrows, on Vancouver Island. If approved, this change would allow future industrial development in a sensitive habitat.

🫍 Hearing date April 16

Learn more: https://t.co/moP5P9RWP2

[Orca Conservancy @OrcaConservancy]

1. Submit a public comment supporting the proposed amendments to Marine Mammal Protections to increase the minimum approach distance from 400 meters to 1,000 meters.

🫍 Comments due April 21st

https://t.co/vRfrVfmZwI

[Orca Conservancy @OrcaConservancy]

@baycetology , which maintains the West Coast transient catalog, has officially designated them T419, T420, and T421.

[Orca Conservancy @OrcaConservancy]

We had some new fins making their way around Puget Sound last week! Meet T419, T420, and T421, a group of formerly undocumented whales that had never been recorded here.

These three mystery whales captured attention after spending 4 days in Vancouver Harbor in BC, Canada.

[Orca Conservancy @OrcaConservancy]

While little is known about these three, observed behavior confirms they are mammal-eating killer whales. More encounters or DNA samples will be needed to determine their population, but researchers suspect they may be Gulf of Alaska transients.

[Orca Conservancy @OrcaConservancy]

Here is the replay of our encounter with T419, T420, and T421 from last week!

Footage was taken at Satlwater State Park in Des Moines, WA, and Dash Point State Park in Federal Way, WA.

Subscribe for updates!

https://t.co/DDhF0I9TZr

[Orca Conservancy @OrcaConservancy]

Photo: L105 Fluke, L91 Muncher, L110 Midnight, L106 Pooka

[Orca Conservancy @OrcaConservancy]

🚨URGENT & TIME SENSITIVE ACTION ALERT🚨

Submit a comment to protect the Endangered Species Act! The public comment period closes on December 22, 2025, at 11:59 EST.

To learn more about all the proposed changes and how to submit a comment, visit: https://t.co/lVSWqWesxH

[KIRO 7 @KIRO7Seattle]

New orca calf born into southern resident’s K-Pod https://t.co/TwIVWh9fse

[KIRO 7 @KIRO7Seattle]

Officials urge residents to look out for invasive Chinese mitten crabs in WA waterways https://t.co/Za4UilXyN9

[Orca Conservancy @OrcaConservancy]

Photo taken by Orca Conservancy staff Tamara Kelley

[Orca Conservancy @OrcaConservancy]

NEW CALF SPOTTED IN K POD!!!

This afternoon, we were viewing K Pod when we spotted a very small & very orange calf amongst the K14s & K12s. We still need to go through our footage, but it appeared that the calf was primarily traveling with K36 Yoda.

[Orca Conservancy @OrcaConservancy]

The Center for Whale Research (CWR) will assign the calf an alphanumeric ID—likely K47, as K46 was used in the historical catalog. Per their protocol, CWR will also confirm the calf’s maternity after it has been observed in three separate encounters.

[Orca Conservancy @OrcaConservancy]

From our perspective on shore, the calf appears to look robust and energetic. We observed it surfacing often on its own and zipping around the large group of Ks.

This new calf is the first calf born into K Pod since 2022.