Aerial image of Southern Resident killer whale J16 taken during health research in September 2024. Image obtained using an octocopter drone flown non-invasively >100ft above the whales under NMFS permit # 22306. |
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'Part of her World' Again: Mermaid Swims Free |
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Mermaid's real-life fairytale is only possible because of people like you! |
Thanks to ocean heroes like you, Mermaid is one of 52 harbor seal pups who have received a second chance at the Rescue Center so far this year, making it our busiest summer on record! Like most of these patients, Mermaid was likely orphaned when her mom was scared off by people getting too close to them on the beach. |
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So young that she still had her umbilical cord when she first arrived at the Rescue Center in May - Mermaid weighed only 13 pounds - about half the size of a healthy newborn pup.
With lots of fatty formula, fishy meals, and intensive care over the next three months, Mermaid ballooned to 47 pounds. By popular vote on social media, she was even recently crowned our winner of Fat Seal Week! |
| Mermaid at release, looking worthy of her recent title as winner of Fat Seal Week! Photo by: Madison Kirkman |
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Today Mermaid is back where she belongs - under the sea - because of this village we call SR3. |
When Dragon arrived at the Rescue Center in March, she weighed about as much as a newborn seal pup, yet she had likely been born the previous fall. Malnourished and weak, she was struggling with parasites and pneumonia.
Through the generosity of people like you, she recovered from her illnesses and returned to her ocean home in May.
Recently resighted in Seattle on a floating dock, Dragon appears to be integrating well with her wild cohorts and maintaining her robust shape. Take a look at Dragon in the wild today! |
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Hot off the Camera: Aerial Images of
Southern Resident killer whales |
SR3's research team has had a successful start to their annual health monitoring of Southern Resident killer whales (SRKWs), extending our dataset to 17 years in this consistent month of September! |
Aerial images of Southern Resident killer whales taken during health research in September 2024: L90 and her new calf L128 surfacing (left) and J16 breaching (right). Images obtained using an octocopter drone flown non-invasively >100ft above the whales under NMFS research permit # 22306. |
The team has been flying a custom drone carrying a high-resolution camera and precise altimeter 150 ft high over the whales to non-invasively collect aerial images that enable quantitative measurements of length and body condition - a photogrammetry technique Dr. Fearnbach and Dr. Durban have pioneered over the last decade.
Click here to read more of this recent field update >> |
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Shoutout to our brilliant, hard-working interns this year! Ryan, Lauren, and Lindsey (pictured here), along with Sam and Emma, have devoted many hours to caring for the sick and injured patients at the Rescue Center. We also welcomed our first Education and Outreach Intern this year, Gina, who has been out in the community helping spread the word about important marine conservation issues.
Thank you all for your dedication and energy. We can't wait to see the impact you will make in years to come. |
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SR3 was proud to celebrate International Coastal Cleanup Day on September 21 by partnering to take action for sea life.
Together with several other organizations and dozens of volunteers, we cleaned up the marina - both on the beach and underwater - around our Rescue Center in Des Moines!
In one day, 125 pounds of dangerous garbage was cleared from the watershed, including 476 cigarette butts, with the help of this heroic community! |
| Send a warm welcome to Jesse, who recently joined the SR3 team as the Volunteer Coordinator and Development Assistant!
Jesse has a background in youth development, experiential education, and nonprofit administration. As a Seattle local, he has worked for various nonprofits in King County - but also has experience as a naturalist/guide in Latin America and throughout the Western US.
Jesse will be working closely with our volunteers, and he’s excited to connect with the SR3 community and see our impact continue to grow! |
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Monthly Matching Still Available! |
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At 200 members and counting, Wavemakers are the backbone of many rescues. Your waves of support will ensure we can reach another struggling animal who is depending on us. |
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