forward together
to save Southern Resident killer whales from extinction...
We are thrilled to announce that Wild Orca is joining forces with the SeaDoc Society to work towards a shared vision: a future where the Southern Resident 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 will maximize our resources for a more significant impact on these endangered killer whales.
“I am thrilled 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 have an incredible opportunity to make a meaningful impact.”
Since our founding in 2014, Wild Orca has strongly advocated for this endangered killer whale community and 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’ 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 Conservation Research 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 moving our research forward with SeaDoc, we will combine our expertise to immediately enhance our efforts to prevent the extinction of this unique community.”
Questions & Answers
Since adopting the Southern Resident Killer Whale Health Monitoring program from the University of Washington in 2020, it became clear that for Wild Orca to operate at its full potential, we needed to expand our team. Building a large team takes vast amounts of time and resources and oftentimes duplicates the efforts of other organizations. We believed the plight of the whales was too urgent to wait. Therefore, we sought a union with the SeaDoc Society, which shared our vision and had the expertise we needed. We were thrilled that we will join together with SeaDoc Society to advance our shared mission.
Thank you so much for your incredible support of Wild Orca! SeaDoc will continue our health monitoring study, and Wild Orca will transfer our assets, including our research vessel and all donations received in 2024, to the SeaDoc Society. This action will ensure a continuation of Wild Orca’s mission “to translate science into action to save the Southern Resident killer whales from extinction.”
Dr. Giles will continue her research as she transitions to her new role with SeaDoc. Eba will remain the poop sniffer-in-chief on Wild Orca’s research vessel alongside her. Health monitoring will continue through SeaDoc, and our partnerships, such as with the San Diego Wildlife Alliance to undertake hormone analyses, will continue.
Giles has dedicated more time to observing the Southern Resident killer whales than most biologists in this field. Her expertise will be of great value to SeaDoc as we work together to enhance our understanding of the behaviors and long-term health of individual whales in this population and develop strategies to prevent extinction.
The SeaDoc Society is a flagship program of the Karen C. Drayer Wildlife Health Center at the world-famous UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine—a powerful partnership that provices support and collaborative opportunities with some of the brightest minds in their fields.
Founded in 2000, the SeaDoc Society conducts and sponsors vital scientific research in the inland waters of the Pacific Northwest, also known as the Salish Sea. This rich and vibrant ecosystem is home to 37 species of mammals, 172 species of birds, 253 species of fish, and more than 3,000 species of invertebrates. Nearly eight million people make this region their home today while billions of dollars are generated annually by Salish Sea commercial and recreational activities.
The SeaDoc Society conducts and sponsors ground-breaking marine research to uncover the environmental factors threatening to unravel the web of life in the Salish Sea and surrounding watersheds.
And while performing world-class research is of paramount importance, ensuring that findings effect positive change is just as vital. The team at SeaDoc thinks of themselves as arbiters of truth in matters of ocean health, and it’s a role they take seriously.
One of SeaDoc’s unique strengths is translating science into action, acting as a catalyst—bringing together interested parties to share information, forge common understandings and design region-wide solutions.
By donating to the SeaDoc Society, you will still play a crucial role in Wild Orca’s mission to protect the Southern Resident killer whales from extinction. Your future contributions will help fund two dedicated scientists and their teams, enhancing our understanding of the vital ecosystem services that support this endangered population. This knowledge will enable us to advocate for meaningful change on their behalf.
We are genuinely excited to continue our work through the SeaDoc Society to protect the future of this unique killer whale community.