Seattle Aquarium Names Local

Ken Balcomb of the Center for Whale Research and three members of The Whale Museum have been named "Orca Heroes" by the Seattle Aquarium. The Museum members are Director Richard Osborne, the Museum's Soundwatch Boater Education Program Coordinator Kari Koski, and Research Associate Mark Sears.

The four are featured in a new exhibit at the aquarium, in recognition of their years of research and stewardship efforts of the orcas of the Salish Sea.

The exhibit provides the following information about each one of the heroes:

Ken Balcomb: "Ken was a pioneer in the use of photo-identification techniques to identify whales. He started Orca Survey in 1976 and has been Executive Director and Research Biologist for the Center for Whale Research since 1985. Ken has conducted extensive research on whale acoustics and the impact of underwater sound on whales. The Center for Whale Research offers opportunities to become involved with local orcas."

Richard Osborne: "Rich has been studying orcas since 1975. He is the current Director of The Whale Museum, which promotes stewardship of whales and the Salish Sea ecosystem through education and research. The Whale Museum, located in Friday Harbor, San Juan Island, is a great place to learn more about our orcas and how to protect them."

Kari Koski: "Kari is most likely to be found cruising San Juan Island waters behind the wheel of the Soundwatch boat. Kari works hard to help recreational boaters understand the best way to watch orcas without harming them. She and The Whale Museum Director Dr. Rich Osborne developed Soundwatch Boater Education, a stewardship program since 1993 to promote responsible stewardship of marine wildlife and protect orcas in our local waters."

Mark Sears: "Over the last two decades, Mark and his family have been key participants in protecting local orcas. His collection of whale sightings and identification photography provide the primary record of orcas moving through Puget Sound. Mark also played an important role in helping reunite a lost orca calf, Springer (A-73), with her family in 2002."