Close up of three southern resident Killer whales (Orcinus orca) moving through the waters at Active Pass, British Columbia, Canada

Demand an emergency order for 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 your local MP as well as the Honourable Diane Lebouthillier, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans Canada and the Honourable Steven Guilbeault , Minister of Environment and Climate Change Canada. Implore them to demand Cabinet take action to protect the remaining Southern Residents before it’s too late.