Columbia Snake River Campaign Statement on Passing of Southern Resident Orca Calf

The Columbia Snake River Campaign today issued the following statement in response to the heartbreaking news that a newborn calf in the endangered Southern Resident orca population has died in the Salish Sea:

“The loss of this calf is a devastating reminder that the survival of the Southern Resident orcas is hanging by a thread. With fewer than 75 whales left, every birth matters and every death is a huge loss and an urgent call to action,” said Kayeloni Scott, Executive Director for the Columbia Snake River Campaign.

Researchers report that nearly 70% of orca pregnancies end in miscarriage or early calf death, often tied to starvation and the lack of Chinook salmon, the orcas’ primary food source. Many of those salmon runs once thrived in the Columbia River Basin but are now on the brink of extinction.

“If we are going to see these whales survive, we must restore their food supply,” Scott continued. “Over half of the Southern Residents’ coastal diet comes from the Columbia River Basin, and NOAA has deemed removal of the four lower Snake River dams as essential to recovering nutrient-rich Snake River Chinook runs. We need to modernize our energy system and invest in salmon recovery at the scale this crisis demands. Without bold, swift action, more orca calves will be lost before they ever have a chance to live.”

The Columbia Snake River Campaign reaffirmed its commitment to working alongside Tribal Nations, States, scientists, and community leaders to advance solutions that recover salmon, strengthen clean energy, and secure a future for the Southern Resident orcas.