Close up of three southern resident Killer whales © Natalie Bowes / WWF-Canada
Demand action to protect remaining southern resident killer whales
Tell your representative that southern resident killer whales can’t wait
It’s been since June 7 that WWF-Canada, Ecojustice and other environmental coalition partners petitioned the federal government for an Emergency Order to bring Southern Resident killer whales (SRKWs) back from the brink of extinction.
Since July 1 that the SRKW population census came out, dropping from 75 to 73 orcas.
Since early November that Lobo, a 31-year-old male also known as K26, and the calf L128 were separately reported missing and presumed dead by the Center for Whale Research.
Since New Year’s Eve when 27-year-old Tahlequah, J35, was first spotted carrying the body of her deceased calf, J61, a painfully familiar sight after Tahlequah made international news doing the same with her previous calf’s body in 2018.
And since January 28 that Ecojustice filed a lawsuit on our coalition’s behalf over the failure of the Ministers of Fisheries and Oceans and Environment and Climate Change to make a timely recommendation to Cabinet for that Emergency Order.
Parliament may not be sitting, but these whales can’t wait any longer — you can’t prorogue extinction.
How can you help?
Southern Resident killer whales are facing imminent threats to their survival. The federal government has a legal obligation to act now. Send a letter to the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans Canada and the Minister of Environment and Climate Change Canada to implore them to demand the Government take action to protect the remaining Southern Residents before it’s too late.
There are only 73 Southern Resident killer whales (SRKW) remaining. Despite the federal government admitting that these iconic whales — the most endangered in Canada — face imminent threats to their survival and recovery, Cabinet has once again chosen not to enact an Emergency Order.
Parliament may be facing uncertainty, but these whales can’t wait any longer — they face extinction.
How can you help?
Southern Resident killer whales are being pushed to the brink of extinction. An Emergency Order would have allowed for necessary measures to be put in place to reduce the immediate and increasing threats these whales face. Instead, the government has once again opted for public consultations and half measures with vague timelines.
