Tune into the Estuarium’s Facebook Live on November 4th at 6:30 PM for an exciting talk with environmental journalist and author, Lynda V. Mapes. Lynda will guide us through an exploration of the complex challenges facing the Puget Sound’s Southern Resident Orcas which culminated in her latest release, “Orca: Shared Waters, Shared Home”, made in partnership with @seattletimes.

This body of work takes place on the backdrop of July 2018, when people across the Salish Sea, and across the globe, witnessed a heartbreaking scene - orca mother, Tahlequah (also referred to as J35) carried her recently deceased calf nearly 1000 miles for 17 straight days in a display of relatable grief. In the wake of the southern resident orcas struggles, like that of Tahlequah, Lynda writes of the responsibilities we as humans that call the Puget Sound home must take to protect and revive the small orca population we share our waters with.

Lynda V. Mapes is a writer for The Seattle Times whose literary works include pieces on the interconnected range of issues influencing the health of the Puget Sound including, climate change, marine animal and plant welfare, environmental policy, Tribal treaty rights, and Coast Salish People’s crucial ecosystem stewardship efforts.

This Discovery Speaker Series event is an introduction to the OrcaA exhibit, which transforms Lynda’s book into an interactive display that can be viewed at local Puget Sound marine science centers. The Orca Exhibit will be debuting at the Estuarium in November!

Young ones are invited to join in the virtual talk by following along with coloring pages related to the Discovery Speaker Series topics that will be available for download prior to the event. Coloring pages can also be picked up at the Estuarium during our weekend open hours.