Written by: Ana Cormac, Addie Donsker, Jayden Robinson, and Gabby Guilini
Bright Versus Dark Extinction
The decline of the Southern Resident killer whales (SRKW) has been described by the term “bright extinction” as opposed to a “dark extinction”, but what does this actually mean?
Identified by research teams from the Raincoast ConservationFoundation, the idea of a bright extinction describes the level of attention and protection the SRKWs are getting, although they are experiencing population loss. The word choice of “bright” represents the great amount of data there is on the species, compared to other cetaceans. It also reflects the international emphasis of the conservation and protection of the SRKWs. Dark extinction is the opposite, meaning that a species’ decline comes with limited data and knowledge. In other words, it is the loss of species before they are well-known or even discovered.
The Projected Future
Unfortunately, SRKWs look like they are heading towards extinction. As found and calculated by the researchers at Raincoast, the species’ population will decline at an annual rate of 1-2%for the next 100 years; and this rate is increasing right before our eyes. As of right now, there are 73 SRKWs, calculating a decline of about 1.4% for every whale lost. The team at Raincoast claims that the major pathway to recovery for the whales comes from their access to chinook salmon.
Reuniting in the Puget Sound
Over 50 years ago, it was common practice for the orcas to be herded into Penn Cove with boats, planes, nets, and explosives. There was one infamous incident in the 1970’s where 80-100 members were gathered and, though some orcas managed to escape, they never returned to Penn Cove again. That was until November of 2024, the L pod re-entered the cove for the first time in nearly half a century. L25 is the only member of the L pod who was alive for the herding events in the 1970’s so it is assumed that is why they have returned. The L pod returned to Penn Cove the following day before heading North again. The return of orcas to Penn Cove shows how resilient the species is and brings hope for their conservation and recovery.
Sources Cited:
https://www.raincoast.org/press/action-needed-to-save-endangered-southern-resident-killer-whales/
About the Youth Action Council
The NMMF’s Youth Action Council, funded through National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, sheds a spotlight on the endangered Southern Resident killer whale population. This initiative aims to empower high school students interested in marine science and ocean conservation to turn their interest into impactful, real-world experiences. Through hands-on workshops, collaborative projects, and mentorship, students transform their passion into meaningful actions that benefit both their community and the natural world. To learn more about the Youth Action Council, or if you know of a student who may want to apply for our 2026 cohort, visit our youth initiatives page for more information.
Just as doctors keep your health records updated, NMMF biologists and veterinarians are working with our colleagues to track the condition of Southern Resident killer whales in Puget Sound by creating a unique scientific health database. With these long-term records, researchers and managers can track individual whale health and determine how to best protect this endangered population of animals.
In 2025, we had our student alumni council members work on a series of current event newsletters as they pertain to the Southern Resident killer whales in the real world. Students worked in a collaborative setting while taking on individualized leadership roles to research a topic and convey the current events to first-year council members in a creative way. We are very proud of the great work of our students, and are excited to share the current happenings of the Southern Resident killer whales with all of you!
