Hundreds turn out to learn about Southern Resident orcas

On Saturday, nearly 300 students, advocates and orca enthusiasts attended a film screening of “Coextinction” to learn about the plight of the now less than 75 Southern Resident orcas. This comes at a time when earlier this month, Tahlequah, a beloved and local favorite, carried her second deceased calf in a public display of mourning for over a week.

The loss of another young orca is catastrophic for this small, struggling population of mammals and it emphasizes the need to urgently restore their favorite food: Chinook salmon. Many of these fish are blocked from their spawning grounds by the four Lower Snake River dams. Removing them is a critical action in restoring these crucial salmon runs.

The filmed addresses the lack of salmon, the dams and the broader ecological and cultural impacts of their struggle. From the turnout, it’s clear Washingtonians want to see more being done to save them.

Below are just a few photos from the event. You can check out more about the film here.