Why these endangered orcas can’t recover

In the 1960s and ’70s, dozens of southern resident killer whales were captured from the Salish Sea, or killed in the process, after the rise of captive orca entertainment. Just as the population began to recover from the capture era, new threats emerged.

Today, these whales carry a toxic legacy in their bodies. Industrial chemicals like PCBs, flame retardants, and banned pesticides such as DDT persist in the environment and accumulate in their blubber. These pollutants can weaken immune systems, disrupt reproduction, and magnify the effects of food scarcity, pushing the population into continued decline.

As endangered southern resident killer whales fight for survival, federal funding cuts threaten the science working to save them. THE PROTECTORS is now on Scientific American.

Видео Why these endangered orcas can’t recover канала Scientific American