When I was about 10 years old, my parents took me camping on Washington State’s Olympic Peninsula. I remember the sharp smell of the evergreen trees mixing with salty sea spray as my parents and I hiked along the coastal cliffs. We eventually came to a lookout where a large group of people were chattering excitedly, peering around each other to get a good view of the Sound. Curious, I quickly scooted my way to the front of a group (being a child had its perks). Across the Sound there were a dozen orca whales breeching the surface of the water, swimming and diving, in my eyes frolicking, as they made their way closer to us. I had never before seen anything, anyone, so majestic and powerful.
Southern Resident orcas in the Puget Sound
Learning more about whales sparked my fascination and curiosity. Did you know the blue whale is the largest animal that ever lived? That they can weigh as much as 24 elephants? Or that bowhead whales can live for more than 200 years? Did you know that several species of whales, like orca whales, live in close-knit family groups that share knowledge with each other through their songs? And that some even share food with those less able to hunt?
I still have the same reverence for whales that I did as a child, but I have also become aware of the important role they play in marine ecosystems. Many whales are keystone species, meaning that they are a species that has an impact on the natural environment disproportionate to their abundance. If a keystone species disappears from an ecosystem or its population is greatly reduced, the ecosystem will change drastically. If whales disappear, many marine ecosystems will become destabilized. In other words, they (and we) will be in big trouble.
Commercial whaling in the late 19th and early 20th centuries decimated the populations of many whale species. Before commercial whaling, the great whale population, including baleen and sperm whales numbered 4 to 5 million. Today, the population is estimated to be around 1.3 million (source) and six out of the thirteen species of great whales are considered endangered or vulnerable. And no wonder. Whales face declining fish stocks, habitat loss, water pollution, sound pollution . . . the list goes on and on. My beloved orcas have not escaped these threats. There were about 85 members of the Southern Resident orcas when I first saw them as a child in 2008. The population has now declined to close to 70. The creatures I have always seen as some of the most powerful, I now realize are also some of the most vulnerable.
For my beat, I will dig into why such powerful creatures are also so vulnerable. I will answer questions like: What are the biggest threats whales face? What are the sources of these threats? What are the most effective ways to address these threats and best protect whales? What are the best activism and political tactics? What makes people care about whales? What is their cultural significance? By drawing attention to the environmental problems whales face, the most effective conservation methods, and the greater meaning they hold to us as humans, I believe that we can help ensure the persistence of these awesome creatures for years to come.
Photo source: url