Science With an Impact: Giles Talks Southern Resident Killer Whales in Washington DC

SeaDoc Society Killer Whale Scientist Dr. Deborah Giles traveled to Washington DC in early February to meet with legislators, including Washington State Senator Patty Murray, and other senior legislative staff members from both the House and Senate. SeaDoc’s mission is to fund and conduct science that makes a XXX difference, and work like this is an important part of that.

During these in-person meetings, Giles, along with Makeda Okolo of the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, SeaDoc's killer whale research partner organization, talked about what’s causing the continuous decline in the Southern Resident killer whale population. That includes the need to examine fisheries management and increase salmon habitat restoration work to increase prey abundance in the Southern Residents’ range, as well as the development of a shared Killer Whale Health Database that research groups can use to study and conserve the population.

These in-person meetings allowed for deep discussions not only about the Southern Residents but also about the ecosystem-wide research being conducted by and funded through the SeaDoc Society.