Our New Logo
L25 "Ocean Sun"

Our new logo features L25, the oldest living matriarch in the Southern Resident orca community. She is not just an individual whale, but a symbol of resilience, knowledge, and connection across generations. She represents both our past - and our future commitment to understanding and protecting the Southern Resident killer whales.

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L25 has been a constant presence throughout our study. When Dr Ken Balcomb began the study in 1976, L25 was already there. Estimated to have been born around 1928, she is a living link to a time before many of the challenges her population faces today.

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In her early years, she and her family experienced an ocean rich with Chinook salmon. Over time, that abundance has declined, and the fish they depend on are now smaller and less nutritious. Today, she must lead her family farther and work harder in their never-ending search for food.

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Over the past five decades, our long-term study has allowed us to follow whales like L25 - documenting their families, their challenges, and the changing environment around them. This continuity is what makes our research so powerful. It allows us not only to understand what has happened, but to inform what must happen next to protect this population.

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The importance of long-term research has never been greater. It is the foundation for understanding change, guiding conservation, and ensuring that future generations of whales - and people - can continue to learn from extraordinary matriarchs like L25.

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We’re honored to have L25 lead us forward as our new logo.

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Thank you for being part of this journey.

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- The Center for Whale Research Team