Orcas, with their sharply contrastive black and white markings and ramrod straight dorsal fins, could easily be the symbol of Seattle. Most of that city's residents take pride in Puget Sound's 86 remaining orcas which differ from others of their species both in their genetic make up and behaviors. They even have their own language!
Not everyone loves them, though. Two farms in the San Joaquin Valley are claiming their profits are hurt by water restrictions that benefit the Puget Sound orcas. On behalf of those farmers, the Pacific Legal Foundation has claimed the Puget Sound orcas should not be listed as endangered because there are plenty of other orcas in the Pacific. The conservative non-profit law group claims that, in listing the Puget Sound Orca, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) invented a new subspecies.
Tell NOAA you love the Puget Sound orcas and that they are unique enough to stay on the endangered species list.
We the undersigned respectfully ask you to dismiss any requests to take the Puget Sound orca off the endangered species list.
To claim that the Puget Sound orca is not worth saving because there are plenty of other orcas in the ocean is not sound science. The Puget Sound orcas are absolutely unique in genetic make up, language, and behavior. The Puget Sound orcas are homebodies that love the sound and are beloved by almost everyone who has seen them.
Please continue protecting these magnificent ocean mammals!
