SEATTLE (May 17, 2017) – June marks the 11th annual Orca Awareness Month in Washington state and second annual in Oregon and British Columbia. Members of the Orca Salmon Alliance (OSA) are hosting events throughout the month to educate the public about the Southern Resident Killer Whale (SRKW) population and the challenges they face, including reduced Chinook salmon numbers, pollutants in the water, higher risk for oil spills, and increased boat noise from shipping traffic.
A kick-off celebration for Orca Month will be held on June 4, 2017.
Event: 2017 Orca Month Kick-Off Celebration
When: Sunday, June 4, 2017 from 2:00-5:00 pm PT
Where: Golden Gardens Bathhouse, 8498 Seaview Pl, Seattle, Wash.
What: A family-friendly event with arts-and-crafts (bring an old t-shirt and repurpose it into an Orca Month 2017 tote bag), face painting, storytelling and orca-themed activities. There will also be a memorial for the leader of the SRKWs, Granny J2, and six other members of the orca community who passed away in 2016, leaving the highly endangered Southern Resident orca population teetering on the brink of extinction at just 78 individuals.
Who: Speakers will include: Ralph Munro, former WA Secretary of State (invited); Brenda Peterson, teacher and author of the upcoming "Wild Orca: The Oldest, Wisest Whale In The World"; Dave Neiwert, author of "Of Orcas And Men"; Dr. Deborah Giles, Research Director/Project Manager at the Center for Whale Research; Paul Cheoketen Wagner, Native American storyteller and award winning flute player; Sondra Simone Segundo, singer and author of "Killer Whale Eyes". Event emcee will be author and former KING 5 meteorologist, Jeff Renner. There will be a special welcome to the Duwamish homeland by Ken Workman, the great, great, great, great grandson of Chief Seattle. Music will be provided by tribal musicians.
Why: Orca Network – an orca conservation organization – started Orca Month in 2006 to bring together researchers, advocates, and orca lovers everywhere to raise awareness of the threats facing these magnificent animals and provide a community to celebrate the orcas of the Salish Sea.
Visit our website at orcamonth.com to find out more about this and future Orca Month events.
For over 75 years, Defenders of Wildlife has remained dedicated to protecting all native animals and plants in their natural communities. With a nationwide network of nearly 2.1 million members and activists, Defenders of Wildlife is a leading advocate for innovative solutions to safeguard our wildlife for generations to come. To learn more, please visit https://defenders.org/newsroom or follow us on X @Defenders.
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