Orca: Shared Waters, Shared Home

by Lynda Mapes (Contributor), Steve Ringman

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.

Genres: Nonfiction, Nature, Science, Ecology, Natural History

192 pages, Hardcover

First published May 18, 2021

Reviews

[... · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sobering coverage of the plight of the Southern Resident orcas and the reasons behind the population's inability to rebound even 50 years after the capture era. Lynda Mapes takes a closer look at the correlation between the declining salmon runs, the increase in noise and boat traffic, pollution, and the state of the Southern Resident population.

Still, the basic overview of the orca biology and behavior and of the capture era provided in the first chapters offers nothing new or particularly insightful (when compared to other books about orcas, and there are quite a few). The strength of the book lies in the later chapters - the ones about Tahlequah, the salmon, the Northern Residents - and in the photos.

Further reading about the Southern Residents and salmon:
Endangered Orcas
Of Orcas and Men
Listening to Whales

[Wendy Feltham · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lynda Mapes begins this impressive book saying that there have already been many books written about Orcas. But this one is very current and clearly explains the possible extinction of the Southern Resident pods that everyone loves so much in Puget Sound. The photos are stunning, and Lynda Mapes writes beautifully about the life and death of these iconic whales. It's very difficult to read Mapes's account of (and to remember) the death of the newborn Orca and how her mother carried her for so many days as she swam around Puget Sound. It's very difficult to read the chapters about the capture of live Orcas for entertainment in aquariums. (Why!?!?) It's very difficult to read about the lack of Chinook Salmon, their preferred food over thousands of years, and the human-caused reasons for the decline. It's inspiring, however, to read of the people who have worked so hard to study and learn from these remarkable animals, and to know the pods north of here are thriving. One can hope laws will change, dams will be breached, that we will do everything else that needs to be done to restore their habitat. A day after finishing this book, I was so lucky to witness five Orcas from a Southern Resident pod swimming by Whidbey Island. Salmon were leaping. That gave me hope.

[Daniel Schulte · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is impressive. I started reading it thinking of just learn about the orcas and their lifecycle. Then it took me to the utterly depressing view of the southern resident orcas and their struggles to survive in the horrible conditions humans have put them in. I know that humans are terrible to our environment, but this book laid it bare.

But then the book shows natures resilience and ability to bounce back of humans just get out of is way. It's a good reminder that in the millions of years that this planet has hosted life, creatures that call themselves humans have only participated in a tiny fraction. Sometimes we think that humans are a disease or virus on the ecosystem, but now I wonder if that isn't giving us too much credit. Maybe we're actually just a splinter, and once we annihilate ourselves with our bombs or with climate change, then the planet will get back to business as usual with life adapting and evolving as it has done for millennia.

[Kimberly Hallahan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! I thought I knew about orcas, but this book covers orcas, their environments, their history, and their plight thoroughly and in detail. Shared Waters, Shared Home is right. 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.

[Carol Volkman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a beautiful sobering look at the beauty of the PNW & our struggling Southern Residents. I hope we can turn this around because it is slipping away from us at a frightening pace. I have enjoyed Lynda Mapes in the Seattle Times, and this book does not disappoint.

[Sonya · Rating 5 out of 5]

This beautiful book should be required reading for all 6 million residents surround Puget Sound!

[Allison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Orca science is presented comprehensively, but accessibly, and complemented by stunning photos. The reader comes away with an understanding of how orca survival depends on the entire watershed.

[Sophie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I learned that there are three kinds of orcas in the area. Some of them prey on sharks while most of them eat Chinook salmon. Orcas are endangered because they were captured in great numbers before the 1960s, even though the capture has been banned for 40 years, their numbers are not back. The reason behind it is that they couldn't get enough food because of 1) heavy marine traffic in Puget Sound, preventing them from locating their prey with echolocation; 2) shrinking Chinook salmon numbers due to human activity like developing and dam building. Chinook salmons grow smaller in the last 40 years, and so are orcas.
Thanks to the widespread report on the orca mother carrying her dead calf in 2018, people started to care and take action on saving the environment which not only wild lives rely on but so are humans.
Though it's heartbreaking reading about how these wild lives were endangered because of human activity, I also feel hope is beaming when actions are taken.

[Marcia McLaughlin · Rating 5 out of 5]

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!

[Nancy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Much of the book is about the chinook salmon and the human interference in the waterways. I wanted more information about orcas, but this was certainly an eye-opener to their plight.

[DH · Rating 4 out of 5]

humans are such vibe killers!!!! read this for summer book bingo and pleased I did

[jedioffsidetrap · Rating 4 out of 5]

Detailed & informative narrative of the two resident populations of orcas in the Pacific Northwest & their ecosystem, with many photos.