Orca: Shared Waters, Shared Home [B1763]

2021 HCDJ 1st edition in excellent condition. 2021 National Outdoor Book Award Winner in Nature and the Environment. 2022 Washington State Book Award Winner in General Nonfiction. Orca whale J35, also known as "Tahlequah," gave birth in July of 2018 in the waters off British Columbia, but her calf died soon after, leading its mother to carry her for 17 days across 1000 miles before finally releasing the calf and rejoining her pod. This extraordinary and caring behavior sparked not only worldwide sympathy, but also a revival of our awareness of the critical need to preserve orcas, the chinook salmon they feed on, and their habitat that together make up the core of Pacific Northwest identity.

In Orca: Shared Waters, Shared Home journalist Lynda V. Mapes explores the natural history of the orca and the unique challenges for survival of the Southern Resident group that frequents Puget Sound. These whales are among the most urban in the world, a focus of researchers, tourists, and politicians alike. Once referred to as "blackfish" and still known as "killer whales," orcas were for generations regarded as vermin to be avoided or exterminated, then later were captured live for aquariums all over the world. With greater exposure, scientists realized how intelligent the mammal is and are learning about their matriarchal family groups, vocalizations, behavior, and different subspecies. Today only 74 Southern Resident whales are left, and they are threatened by habitat degradation, lack of chinook salmon (their primary food source), relentless growth, and climate change. Can we reverse the trend?

This special project, co-published with the Pulitzer Prize winning Seattle Times newspaper, features stunning imagery by Times photographer Steve Ringman, as well as from partner organizations including The Whale Museum, NOAA, and Center for Whale Research.

From Amazon/GoodReads reviews: "Excellent book! Very clear writing. I understand so much more about the orcas as well as the challenges the Southern Residents face in Puget Sound and the Straits of Juan de Fuca. Well worth reading!"; "Necessary, comprehensive, moving. I bought this because I was one of the people who never doubted that animals love their children like we do, but Tahlequah's grief will remain with me forever. There are worse things than extinction, and often living in proximity with humans is. But this book details how Canada has found a way to let their coastal orcas not only survive, but thrive. For so many reasons, WE OWE THEM THAT. Wonderful book."; "Amazing photos. Captures the essence of this beautiful mammal. Great insight into this mammal's habits, habitats, families, and beauty"; "Wow! I thought I knew about orcas, but this book covers orcas, their environments, their history, and their plight thoroughly and in detail. California has pretty much lost the salmon and orca populations that it had. Washington is struggling. Canada still has strong salmon and orca populations. We in Washington need to learn and act before it is too late. The terrific success of dam removal on the Elwha River shows us how quickly nature can recover when given the chance."