(AP) June 27, 2014 — Before they were captured in big numbers for our entertainment in the 1960s, the Northwest’s iconic, distinct and much-loved Southern Resident killer whales hovered at a self-sustaining 140 members. Human desire to see them in tanks at amusement parks caused that number to drop to 71 in 1974. The orcas have yet to fully recover, and their comeback has been hampered by the loss of their main food (Fraser River Chinook salmon), industrial shipping, tourism and pollution, according to a NOAA Fisheries report released this week documenting the findings of 10 years of research."
In 2005, orcas were listed as endangered in the wake of local and regional efforts in the 2000s to conserve this unique group.
“Killer whales can be found in many oceans, but the distinct Puget Sound population can be found most summer months and fall in Washington state waters. They primarily eat fish, rather than other marine mammals. They travel in three families, or the J, K and L pods. Whales from the same pod tend to spend most of their time together,” the Associated Press summarized.
Read the full story from the Associated Press and watch the video from NOAA at SeattlePi.com