Dedicated to the study and conservation of the endangered Southern Resident Killer Whale (Orca) population in the Pacific Northwest since 1976 www.whaleresearch.comhttps://bsky.app/profile/whaleresearch.bsky.socialhttps://bsky.app/profile/whaleresearch.bsky.social/post/3mg6ra5bnk22wThe Center for Whale Research is hiring for a new role! We are seeking an Outreach, Education and Community Relations Lead to join our team. Please send a cover letter, resume and the names of three references who can be contacted regarding your application to: applications@whaleresearch.com03 Mar 2026 21:58 +0000at://did:plc:2j5nmdnaiileybg3f4epzlua/app.bsky.feed.post/3mg6ra5bnk22whttps://bsky.app/profile/whaleresearch.bsky.social/post/3me7nd7xjrc2wJoin us on Saturday, February 7th for a live Q&A with the authors and editors of ‘The Evolution of Cetacean Societies’ 18:00 GMT / 10am PT 🎟️ Free with registration 🔗 https://www.eventbrite.com/e/book-launch-the-evolution-of-cetacean-societies-tickets-1980411690678?aff=oddtdtcreator06 Feb 2026 19:30 +0000at://did:plc:2j5nmdnaiileybg3f4epzlua/app.bsky.feed.post/3me7nd7xjrc2whttps://bsky.app/profile/whaleresearch.bsky.social/post/3mdvqd3jpv22xJoin us Sat, Feb 7 for a FREE virtual book launch of 'The Evolution of Cetacean Societies'. Live Q&A + cover BTS. 🕕 18:00 GMT / 10am PT 🎟️ Free with registration 🔗 https://www.eventbrite.com/e/book-launch-the-evolution-of-cetacean-societies-tickets-198041169067802 Feb 2026 20:57 +0000at://did:plc:2j5nmdnaiileybg3f4epzlua/app.bsky.feed.post/3mdvqd3jpv22xhttps://bsky.app/profile/whaleresearch.bsky.social/post/3m5holelq5s26Applications are now open for the CWR Summer 2026 Research Internship Program! During the three-month program, interns will assist with field research, data analysis, and science communication. Housing and a $1,000/month stipend are provided. Apply: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScPhIiAPIjjs_MF9ypEkzaU9NPPd7mu8CisBJ_2C_rX_HthNw/viewform12 Nov 2025 22:17 +0000at://did:plc:2j5nmdnaiileybg3f4epzlua/app.bsky.feed.post/3m5holelq5s26https://bsky.app/profile/whaleresearch.bsky.social/post/3lsc2xkz62k2pBig news! Our latest paper, “Manufacture and use of allogrooming tools by wild killer whales” has been published in “Current Biology”. This is the first known evidence of a marine mammal making tools out of objects in their environment. Explore more here: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S096098222500450623 Jun 2025 17:06 +0000at://did:plc:2j5nmdnaiileybg3f4epzlua/app.bsky.feed.post/3lsc2xkz62k2phttps://bsky.app/profile/whaleresearch.bsky.social/post/3lr4mos5wfs2dToday is #WorldOceansDay— On this day, we would like to celebrate the incredible work being done by countless individuals and organizations worldwide to protect, preserve, and restore the oceans. Happy World Oceans Day! Artwork by CWR's Katie Jones #OrcaActionMonth #OrcaActionMonth202508 Jun 2025 19:42 +0000at://did:plc:2j5nmdnaiileybg3f4epzlua/app.bsky.feed.post/3lr4mos5wfs2dhttps://bsky.app/profile/whaleresearch.bsky.social/post/3lql2etujus2sJune is Orca Action Month! On our socials, we will be participating in the 2025 theme: “Threads of Life: Connecting Orcas, People, and the Future We Share.” We look forward to joining together to take action for orcas during this month! #orcaactionmonth01 Jun 2025 19:59 +0000at://did:plc:2j5nmdnaiileybg3f4epzlua/app.bsky.feed.post/3lql2etujus2shttps://bsky.app/profile/whaleresearch.bsky.social/post/3ln4hs25ly22pAnother encounter on Apr 11, 2025 with members of both J and K pod is up on our encounters map! We were able to document J40 with the newest calf J63, as well as other active whales like J45 and J31!18 Apr 2025 20:33 +0000at://did:plc:2j5nmdnaiileybg3f4epzlua/app.bsky.feed.post/3ln4hs25ly22phttps://bsky.app/profile/whaleresearch.bsky.social/post/3lmkj7v2xn22bOur first encounter with the newest calf in the SRKW population J63 is up! We also documented all members of both J pod and K pod, as well as the other young calf J62! #killerwhale #srkwpopulation #whaleresearch #centerforwhaleresearch11 Apr 2025 17:11 +0000at://did:plc:2j5nmdnaiileybg3f4epzlua/app.bsky.feed.post/3lmkj7v2xn22bhttps://bsky.app/profile/whaleresearch.bsky.social/post/3lmd4hl2ark2hWe have some incredibly exciting news to share! J Pod has a new calf! Designated J63, we observed this little one traveling with J40. This will be her first known calf! While we have no immediate health concerns at the moment, we’ll continue to update when we can.08 Apr 2025 18:34 +0000at://did:plc:2j5nmdnaiileybg3f4epzlua/app.bsky.feed.post/3lmd4hl2ark2hhttps://bsky.app/profile/whaleresearch.bsky.social/post/3lmariascyk2fOur first K Pod encounter of the year just happened on March 30! Earlier in the month, K Pod had been seen in Monterey Bay, CA and made their way back to the Salish Sea in ~11 days! That’s roughly 1000 miles in under two weeks!07 Apr 2025 20:12 +0000at://did:plc:2j5nmdnaiileybg3f4epzlua/app.bsky.feed.post/3lmariascyk2fhttps://bsky.app/profile/whaleresearch.bsky.social/post/3llhdygkxys2bOur Executive Director @darrencroft.bsky.social and Research Director @drwhale.bsky.social are among the contributing authors of this incredible upcoming book! Not only that but the cover image was captured by CWR and features members of J Pod! Available for preorder now! Set to release Jan 2026. [contains quote post or other embedded content]28 Mar 2025 17:34 +0000at://did:plc:2j5nmdnaiileybg3f4epzlua/app.bsky.feed.post/3llhdygkxys2bhttps://bsky.app/profile/whaleresearch.bsky.social/post/3llfobgave22rOur 13th encounter of the year is up! We were able to photograph and document all 26 members of J Pod including newest member J62. #whaleresearch #centerforwhaleresearch #srkws28 Mar 2025 01:33 +0000at://did:plc:2j5nmdnaiileybg3f4epzlua/app.bsky.feed.post/3llfobgave22rhttps://bsky.app/profile/whaleresearch.bsky.social/post/3lkw25fofc22fThe Center for Whale Research (CWR) is seeking part-time, seasonal education staff to join our team and assist with the daily operations of our ORCA SURVEY Outreach & Education Center in beautiful, vibrant Friday Harbor, San Juan Island for Summer 2025! Link for more info below!21 Mar 2025 20:23 +0000at://did:plc:2j5nmdnaiileybg3f4epzlua/app.bsky.feed.post/3lkw25fofc22fhttps://bsky.app/profile/whaleresearch.bsky.social/post/3lk77nsixfs26We had an early morning encounter with J Pod as they traveled North up Haro Strait on March 6, 2025. The whales were spread but we managed to locate everyone. #whaleresearch #centerforwhaleresearch #srkw #killerwhale #endangeredspecies12 Mar 2025 18:30 +0000at://did:plc:2j5nmdnaiileybg3f4epzlua/app.bsky.feed.post/3lk77nsixfs26https://bsky.app/profile/whaleresearch.bsky.social/post/3ljq7stqzyc25Two new encounters with Biggs killer whales are up on our encounters map from Feb 27, 2025. We spent some time with three of the T46 siblings as they hunted a porpoise. We heard that their brother T46D was separated from them but was not too far away so we went to collect photo ID’s of him as well!06 Mar 2025 19:23 +0000at://did:plc:2j5nmdnaiileybg3f4epzlua/app.bsky.feed.post/3ljq7stqzyc25https://bsky.app/profile/whaleresearch.bsky.social/post/3lizpfb2mhs2aOur 8th encounter of the year was with J pod along the west side of San Juan Island as they traveled all together in a single group on Feb 17, 2025. We were able to make several drone flights for behavioral data observations. #centerforwhaleresearch #whaleresearch #killerwhales #salishsea25 Feb 2025 20:31 +0000at://did:plc:2j5nmdnaiileybg3f4epzlua/app.bsky.feed.post/3lizpfb2mhs2ahttps://bsky.app/profile/whaleresearch.bsky.social/post/3limykg4ehc2gCheck out these amazing photos of J35 and her son J47 from our latest encounter with J Pod as they porpoised west into big waves on Feb 15, 2025! Encounter 7 is up on our interactive encounters map! Link below! #centerforwhaleresearch #whaleresearch #killerwhales #southernresidentkillerwhales20 Feb 2025 19:10 +0000at://did:plc:2j5nmdnaiileybg3f4epzlua/app.bsky.feed.post/3limykg4ehc2ghttps://bsky.app/profile/whaleresearch.bsky.social/post/3liaekf45422sWe got out with J Pod for our 6th encounter of the year! We were able to confirm that J62 is female and document all 26 members! We were also able to confirm that J35 is no longer carrying the carcass of J61. Check out the encounter and more photos at the link below.15 Feb 2025 18:40 +0000at://did:plc:2j5nmdnaiileybg3f4epzlua/app.bsky.feed.post/3liaekf45422shttps://bsky.app/profile/whaleresearch.bsky.social/post/3li5ygpx2z226To all the whale lovers out there, Happy Valentine's Day from the CWR! We posted a blog titled "Whale Love Stories" which includes short stories from CWR members and supports. It can be found at the link below. Share your love of whales by commenting your favorite whale, encounter or memory!14 Feb 2025 19:58 +0000at://did:plc:2j5nmdnaiileybg3f4epzlua/app.bsky.feed.post/3li5ygpx2z226https://bsky.app/profile/whaleresearch.bsky.social/post/3lhcgu6hods2xDid you know that we have an email list? It’s the best way to stay up-to-date with our most recent whale encounter reports and the latest information about our research, education and conservation work! Sign up at the link below! #whaleresearch #salishsea #srkww #southernresidents #killerwhale03 Feb 2025 21:02 +0000at://did:plc:2j5nmdnaiileybg3f4epzlua/app.bsky.feed.post/3lhcgu6hods2xhttps://bsky.app/profile/whaleresearch.bsky.social/post/3lgt3xtehyk2lOur most recent encounter with SRKWs was tricky due to challenging weather conditions but we were able to document members of J Pod, including the newest calf J62, as well as members of the L4 matriline. Read the full report and see more photos from Encounter 5 - Jan 23 2025 at the link below.28 Jan 2025 18:37 +0000at://did:plc:2j5nmdnaiileybg3f4epzlua/app.bsky.feed.post/3lgt3xtehyk2lhttps://bsky.app/profile/whaleresearch.bsky.social/post/3lgqki2e7ss2gWe had the rare opportunity to encounter Northern Resident Killer Whales within our study range! We documented members from the A5 Pod and even observed what appeared to be beach rubbing! Read the full report and see more photos from Encounter 4 at the link below. www.whaleresearch.com/encounters27 Jan 2025 18:18 +0000at://did:plc:2j5nmdnaiileybg3f4epzlua/app.bsky.feed.post/3lgqki2e7ss2ghttps://bsky.app/profile/whaleresearch.bsky.social/post/3lglxjs6abs2eOur research director @drwhale.bsky.social is currently presenting at @orcanetwork.bsky.social Way of Whales about the current research and updates on the Southern Resident killer whale population. #endangeredspecies #whaleresearch25 Jan 2025 22:29 +0000at://did:plc:2j5nmdnaiileybg3f4epzlua/app.bsky.feed.post/3lglxjs6abs2ehttps://bsky.app/profile/whaleresearch.bsky.social/post/3lgli6drxus2vHello! We’re officially on bluesky and also currently tabling at @orcanetwork.bsky.social Way of Whales today! Come say hello and learn about the work we do for endangered Southern Resident Killer Whales!25 Jan 2025 17:54 +0000at://did:plc:2j5nmdnaiileybg3f4epzlua/app.bsky.feed.post/3lgli6drxus2v