We’re excited to share that Wild Orca, a non-profit organization dedicated to saving the Southern Resident killer whales, announced today that it is joining forces with the SeaDoc Society to work towards a shared vision: a future where these killer whales thrive in a healthy ecosystem. By combining the passion and expertise of our teams, including esteemed scientists Dr. Deborah Giles and Dr. Joe Gaydos, we can maximize our resources for a more significant impact on these endangered killer whales.
“I am excited to join the SeaDoc team and continue our important killer whale health monitoring work with our scent detection dog, Eba,” said Wild Orca’s Dr. Giles. “I have great respect for Dr. Gaydos and cannot wait to collaborate on our research. As a conservation biologist, I firmly believe that an ecosystem-based approach is key to recovering the Southern Resident killer whales, and this is the expertise SeaDoc brings. Together, we will have an incredible opportunity to make a meaningful impact.”
Founded in 2014, Wild Orca has strongly advocated for this endangered killer whale community. Since recruiting Dr. Giles in 2018, Wild Orca has emerged as a leading voice on their health. Dr. Giles dedicated over a decade at the University of Washington to a long-term health monitoring study pioneered by Dr. Sam Wasser, which he transferred to Wild Orca in 2020. Dr. Giles will now continue this work with SeaDoc.
“Dr. Giles' research has not only resulted in critical science towards these whales’ recovery and preservation, but her passion has also inspired many people to learn what we can all do to help,” said Leigh Ann Gilmer, Regional Director of the SeaDoc Society. “Bringing Wild Orca's research to the SeaDoc Society is an incredible opportunity to grow our shared impact and improve the health of marine wildlife in the Salish Sea.”
“Wild Orca’s health monitoring program and Dr. Giles’ work on behalf of these whales over the last two decades is impressive,” said Dr. Joe Gaydos, SeaDoc’s Science Director. “We are proud to continue advancing this work, including the expansion of Wild Orca’s health database into regionally-shared electronic health records for these whales. Our goal is to create a more comprehensive understanding of their health to identify the best recovery solutions.”
The declining health of the Southern Resident killer whales is a vital indicator of poor ecosystem health. With 25 years of experience, SeaDoc is dedicated to identifying and addressing the factors threatening the Salish Sea. Drs. Gaydos and Giles will leverage their combined conservation science expertise to advise on the best science and practices for restoring a fully functioning ecosystem that supports humans, killer whales, and all animals throughout the food chain.
Michael Hays, the founder of Wild Orca, stated, “The urgent situation facing these endangered killer whales compelled us to take action. By relocating our research to SeaDoc, we can combine our expertise to immediately enhance our efforts to prevent the extinction of this unique community.”