Orca stranding brings community together for awareness and action

Orca Stranding brings community together for action and awareness

In 2002, the body of a female killer whale was found stranded on the North Olympic Peninsula in Washington State. Just offshore, a healthy, young male hovered close by, refusing gentle attempts to guide him into safer deep water. Although the male orca was saved, it was soon learned that the female's body carried one of the highest loads of toxic chemicals ever recorded in a marine mammal.

Local children who learned about her story gave her the name, "Hope."

The Orca Project was established to raise awarenessof these remarkable animals, the threats they face, and things we can do to help them survive.

Be sure to visit our new exhibit, Learning from Orcas—the Story of Hope.
You can learn more about Orca Project activities at PTMSC at the pages below.

Orca Stranding Learn the dramatic details of the 2002 stranding -- and its significance to us today.	Preparing the Skeleton Find out how volunteers and staff prepared the skeleton and cast new teeth for display.	Residents and Transients Compare the two groups of commonly seen orcas – their food, communication and hunting styles.
Skeleton Articulation Watch PTMSC staff and volunteers assembling Hope's skeleton, step by exciting step.	*Orca Bone Atlas* Examine digital scans of every bone in Hope's body, using the first ever online Orca Bone Atlas.	Orca Science Class Bring your K-12 students and youth groups for a special program on orca communities.
Contaminants in Orcas Learn about chemicals that today's orcas exposed are exposed to – and where they are coming from.	Listen to Orcas PTMSC and other OrcaSound hydrophone stations are recording orca sounds underwater. Listen in!	Take Action to Help Orcas Find out how you can get involved in projects that are helping Pacific Northwest orcas survive.

The story of this orca is a dramatic reminder of the issues of toxic contamination facing marine species, and a warning that these contaminants are undoubtedly affecting many land-based species as well, especially those at the top of the food chain – including human beings.