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Adopt An Orca

DEFEND THE FUTURE

Our Orcas’ Last Hope Begins with You 

In 2018, the world watched powerlessly as Tahlequah, a Southern Resident Orca, carried the lifeless body of her calf for 17 agonizing days. This unthinkable scenario unfolded because she didn’t have enough milk to nurse her infant and keep her alive.

Due to vanishing salmon populations caused by various man-made issues, most notably destructive and careless fishing practices. The orca population has since dwindled to only 74 individuals remaining.

Yet, there are glimmers of hope. Because of the amplification of the orca’s plight through Tahlequah, communities are mobilizing, environmental measures are taking root, and happily, Tahlequah has welcomed two thriving calves since then. We’ve seen the power of education to restore this population, and now your tax-deductible donations as a member of The Orca Club can help turn the tide for their fate, and revive the Salish Sea! Your contribution to the Adopt an Orca Club goes beyond symbolic support—it releases a salmon in your name, fueling the comeback of endangered orcas and rejuvenating their native waters. Adopt an orca today!

Reefnet fishing, a sustainable fishing method, is a friend to the Orca whales.

Dive Into the Orca Club

Immerse yourself in the Southern Resident Orcas world and contribute to its preservation with your Orca Club membership. Support Salish Sea conservation while enjoying captivating stories, exquisite artwork, and intriguing facts about a unique orca unfolding each month. 

Choose from six marine buddies, and receive a handcrafted digital artwork, tales of their adventures, and an ID card representing key identifying characteristics of your orca. It’s more than adoption—it’s connection, insight, and a deep dive into the life of your chosen orca.

Included in your membership:

Here’s what you will receive

  • Whale Portrait: An exclusive, hand-drawn artwork of your orca by local artist A.C. Hart.
  • Orca ID Card: A comprehensive card offering key information about your orca’s lineage and unique identifiers.
  • Personalized Orca Tale: A unique, whimsical tale telling the story of your individual orca.
  • Early Access to Orca Times: Get the monthly Orca Times digital edition before anyone else, packed with orca stories and updates.
  • Certified Wave Warrior Certificate: Personalize and Print Your Wave Warrior Recognition Certificate.

For only $20 USD upfront and $20 monthly, start your orca adoption journey today. Your contributions are fully tax-deductible, and you can opt out of the Orca Club subscription whenever you wish.

October’s Starry Selections

Dive into this month’s orcas, ready for adoption! Choose your favorite and embark on a unique marine friendship.

Support our mission to save the Southern Resident Orcas.

Join our Orca Club today and become a part of a passionate community dedicated to orca conservation. Besides the Orca Club, you can also support our mission by making a one-time, tax-deductible donation or becoming a valued patron. Every contribution significantly impacts our efforts to protect these majestic creatures.

Donate

$25

Minimum

Your fully tax-deductible donation directly supports our efforts for habitat restoration and education.

What’s Included
  • A Digital Art Token – A.C. Hart’s portrait of Tahlequah.

  • The Orca Times – Monthly editions in your inbox.

Most Popular

Adopt

$20

per month

Join the Orca Club and enjoy captivating stories, exquisite artwork, and intriguing facts about a unique orca every month.

What’s Included
  • A New Orca EVERY MONTH!

  • Whale Portrait: Digital copy of orca art by A.C. Hart.

  • Orca ID Card: Your orca’s lineage and unique identifiers.

  • Personalized Orca Tale: Whimsical tale about your orca.

  • Orca Times: Monthly editions in your inbox

  • Certified Wave Warrior Adoption Certificate

Steward

$5,000

Super-Pod

Embrace your role as a steward of the sea by unlocking our premium package and making a transformative impact.

What’s Included
  • Full Benefits of The Orca Club

  • A Personal Orca Story: Featuring you or your loved ones.

  • Wave Warrior Wall: Your name or business name featured on Lummi Island.

  • Artist Edition Portraits: Exclusive digital portraits of 6 orcas by A.C. Hart.

  • Honorary Wave Warrior Award: Special award and promotional kit recognizing your commitment to orca preservation.

Your Adoption, Their Survival

Adopting an Orca might be symbolic, but the impact is real. With each adoption, you’re pouring life into the ocean, enabling the survival and growth of our majestic Orca friends.

  • Supporting Sustainable Fishing
  • Empowering Advocacy
  • Fueling Education

Your adoption doesn’t just connect you to an Orca; it gives them a chance at a healthier, safer life. The ripple effect of your action today will resonate across the oceans, promising a brighter future for the Orcas and their home.

4 easy steps to adopt an orca

Your Tax Deductible Support Drives Pioneering Change

As a recognized 501(c)(3) organization, we’re on a mission to redefine marine conservation.

By joining the orca club, not only do your donations become tax-deductible, but they also fuel our ambitious goal: raising $1 million for essential habitat restoration and enlightening 10,000 families about the challenges faced by the SROs. Dive in, and be part of the change.

Raise our first $ Million

Educate 10,000 families

Beyond Adoption: Uniting Art and Storytelling

Sonata's Melody of Courage by A.C. HartOur symbolic adoptions are anything but average! Teaming up with whale experts and researchers, we’ve learned about each of the 74 unique whales and their traits. Then, we went the extra mile, enlisting local artist, A.C. Hart, to craft spirited watercolor portraits that truly bring our finned friends to life.

We didn’t stop there, our in-house author used these artworks as inspiration to weave engaging tales about each orca.

Reefnet fishing, a sustainable fishing method, is a friend to the Orca whales.

Uniting Generations in the Quest to Safeguard Our Planet

For the first time, we’ve crafted an immersive experience that allows the entire family to explore and understand the world of the SROs together, sparking a lifelong commitment to safeguarding our invaluable planet.

  • Delight in our enchanting Orca Tales as a family
  • Dive into learning: Discover unique facts about your adopted whale
  • Build your Orca Family: Collect a new whale each month
  • Engage in Wave Warrior events for fun and learning
  • Lead the wave: Organize your own Wave Warrior meet-up for your local community
Safeguarding our planet for future generations

Wear Your Support

Enhance your adoption experience with a T-shirt featuring your orca buddy! 
Visit our store for exclusive Orca gear.
J35 Talequah tshirt in green
K35 Sonata Mug
Southern Resident Orca

Create a Tidal Wave of Change with one of Our Premium Adoption Packages

Wave Warriors Super Pod Package

Super-Pod Steward
$5,000.00

Make a powerful difference with our ‘Adopt the Super Pod’ package. Each month, you will warmly welcome all six adoptable orcas into your life. Along with all the standard adoption benefits, you’ll also enjoy exclusive Super Pod bonuses, amplifying your impact and adventure.

  • A Personal Orca Story: Experience a personalized Orca Tale, uniquely crafted to feature you or your loved ones in a captivating orca adventure.
  • Wave Warrior Hero Wall: Have your name immortalized on our Wave Warrior Hero Wall on Lummi Island, acknowledging your significant contribution.
  • Artist Edition Portraits: Receive exclusive artist-edition digital portraits of all 6 orcas, beautifully illustrated by A.C. Hart
  • Honorary Wave Warrior Award: Special award and promotional kit recognizing your commitment to orca preservation.
Whale Warriors super pod includes all six Orca whales

Meet the Wave Warrior Founding Team

The Wave Warrior team

The Wave Warriors Collection is created to raise awareness and generate support for the Salish Center for Sustainable Fishing Method, a 501 c (3) Non profit.

Riley Starks: Executive Director
Lifelong commercial fisherman with deep ties to the Lummi Island community. Passionate educator about sustainable fishing.

Larry Mellum: President
Founder of the award-winning Pike Place Chowder and a dedicated advocate for sustainable seafood and marine habitat restoration.

Rachel Wilkins: Marketing Director
TIMEPieces Council Member, Social Advocate, Co-Founder of Conception Arts, Published Author, and Top 100 Podcaster.

A.C. Hart: Multidisciplinary Artist, and Beneficial Change Maker
Award-winning public speaker, author/illustrator of FlowSong, and creator of the revolutionary Transformational Tuning technique.

Eli Harris: Technical Director
Technology systems architect, integration specialist, e-Commerce integrator, and web services expert

Linda Campbell: Multimedia Designer
Graphic Design, and Web Design and Development.

Be a Founding Wave Warrior: Seize the chance to make an ocean of difference for just $20 a month—usually $49! Join now and be among the first 100 to pioneer a movement reviving the Salish Sea and its endangered orcas. Your founding status isn’t just a title; it’s a legacy.

Support our mission to save the Southern Resident Orcas.

Join our Orca Club today and become a part of a passionate community dedicated to orca conservation. Besides the Orca Club, you can also support our mission by making a one-time, tax-deductible donation or becoming a valued patron. Every contribution significantly impacts our efforts to protect these majestic creatures.

Donate

$25

Minimum

Your fully tax-deductible donation directly supports our efforts for habitat restoration and education.

What’s Included
  • A Digital Art Token – A.C. Hart’s portrait of Tahlequah.

  • The Orca Times – Monthly editions in your inbox.

Most Popular

Adopt

$20

per month

Join the Orca Club and enjoy captivating stories, exquisite artwork, and intriguing facts about a unique orca every month.

What’s Included
  • A New Orca EVERY MONTH!

  • Whale Portrait: Digital copy of orca art by A.C. Hart.

  • Orca ID Card: Your orca’s lineage and unique identifiers.

  • Personalized Orca Tale: Whimsical tale about your orca.

  • Orca Times: Monthly editions in your inbox

  • Certified Wave Warrior Adoption Certificate

Steward

$5,000

Super-Pod

Embrace your role as a steward of the sea by unlocking our premium package and making a transformative impact.

What’s Included
  • Full Benefits of The Orca Club

  • A Personal Orca Story: Featuring you or your loved ones.

  • Wave Warrior Wall: Your name or business name featured on Lummi Island.

  • Artist Edition Portraits: Exclusive digital portraits of 6 orcas by A.C. Hart.

  • Honorary Wave Warrior Award: Special award and promotional kit recognizing your commitment to orca preservation.

FAQ

Q1: What does “symbolic adoption” mean?
A1: Symbolic adoption means you financially support the care, preservation, and research efforts for the orcas rather than physically adopting one. Your funds contribute to the overall well-being of the Southern Resident Orcas and the Salish Sea ecosystem.

Q2: How much does it cost to adopt an orca?
A2: The cost can vary based on the package you select. Each level of adoption provides different benefits and contributions towards our cause. Please refer to our website for detailed pricing.

Q3: How does my adoption contribution help the orcas?
A3: Your adoption contribution directly supports our work in habitat restoration, educational programs, and advocacy for sustainable practices. It helps ensure the Southern Resident Orcas’ survival and the Salish Sea’s health.

Q4: Can I adopt an orca as a gift for someone else?
A4: Absolutely! Adopting an orca as a gift is a wonderful way to show you care about both the recipient and the environment. You can choose to have the adoption certificate and other materials sent directly to the recipient.

Q5: Can I adopt more than one orca?
A5: Yes, you can choose to adopt multiple orcas. You could even adopt the entire Super Pod with our premium adoption packages!

Q6: How long does the adoption last?
A6: The adoption is symbolic and lasts for one year. However, we encourage you to renew your support annually to continue contributing to the wellbeing of the Southern Resident Orcas and their habitat.

Q7: Will I receive updates about my adopted orca?
A7:As an adopter, you’ll receive periodic updates about the SROs and our overall conservation efforts via The Orca Times.

Q8: Can I choose which orca to adopt?
A8: Each month, we feature six orcas for adoption. You can choose from these or, with our Super Pod package, adopt all six at once!

Q9: What will I receive when I adopt an orca?
A9: As a symbolic adopter, you’ll receive a personalizable adoption certificate, a digital print of your orca beautifully illustrated by our resident artist, a unique story about your orca, an orca indo card, and exclusive access to Wave Warrior events.

Q10: I don’t live in the U.S. can I still adopt an orca?
A10: Yes, we welcome and appreciate international support. Please note that certain benefits, like event participation, might be delivered differently based on your location.