October 15, 2026 — The endangered southern resident killer whale population has grown for the second year in a row, offering a bit of encouraging news for the orcas that frequent Puget Sound and the Salish Sea.
The Center for Whale Research (CWR) announced Monday that its annual census counted 76 living southern resident killer whales, an increase of two from the previous year.
Researchers documented four births during the census period, although only two calves survived to the July 1 census date.