Monika Wieland Shields – Endangered Orcas

The Southern Resident killer whales are icons of the Pacific Northwest, a beloved population of orcas that are considered the most-watched whales in the world. Despite decades of research and focused conservation efforts, they are on the brink of extinction. With more challenges on the horizon, one question looms: can we still create a sustainable future for humans and orcas in the Salish Sea?
Monika Wieland Shields is the cofounder and president of the non-profit Orca Behavior Institute, which conducts non-invasive behavioral and acoustic research on the orcas of the Salish Sea. She lives on San Juan Island, Washington.
This event is part of the Nature of Writing Series run in partnership with the North Cascades Institute.