Dawn Noren is a federal research biologist with NOAA. She studies the physiology of the Southern Resident killer whales, specifically focused on blubber and body condition. She has worked on several high profile cases, including the historic intervention staged to save the young ailing J50, who eventually disappeared and is presumed dead. Recovery conversations have mostly focused on food, as the Southern Resident orcas only eat fish and their preferred diet, Chinook salmon, are also declining. While Noren does not disagree with the need to recovery salmon runs, her research shows that the whales are likely facing a much more complicated battle to survive. At the time of this recording, there are just 73 Southern resident killer whales left alive in the wild.

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