Despite the popularity of the Southern Resident Killer Whales who live in the Pacific Northwest, they're still highly endangered and their future survival is unlikely if we don't act now to help them.
Even with years of protection in the U.S. under the Endangered Species Act (ESA), and in Canada under the Species at Risk Act (SARA), they've yet to make a comeback. Today, there are only 76 individual members left in existence.
While they continue to face a host of threats ranging from boat noise to pollution, one of their biggest problems now is a lack of their main food source: Chinook salmon, which is also endangered. Both the Southern Residents, and their Northern Resident relatives who live off the coast of Canada, rely on this particular salmon for survival.
Now, a coalition of conservation organizations including the David Suzuki Foundation, Georgia Strait Alliance, Natural Resources Defense Council, Raincoast Conservation Foundation and WWF Canada is petitioning the Canadian government to take emergency action to protect them by reducing these threats, which it has the authority to do under SARA for species at risk.
Specifically, they want to see measures implemented that will increase Chinook salmon and reduce disturbances from boats, in addition to identifying and protecting critical habitat for them.
These are common-sense measures that should have already been taken, but the government has yet to act and these beloved killer whales are now facing the real threat of extinction.
Please show your support by signing and sharing this petition urging officials in Canada to issue an emergency order to reduce the threats they face.
