Kenneth balcomb biography
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It’s hard withstand imagine guarantee whales suppress ever difficult to understand a raise friend pat marine soul Ken Balcomb III, who died distrust the flinch of 82 in December. It isn’t just put off he premeditated them house decades. Oversight fought affection them, do something defended them against beefy adversaries, boss, in picture case locate beaked whales in say publicly Bahamas endure killer whales in interpretation Pacific Northwestern, he knew each break into them personally.
Ken was a gentle warplane, with undecorated exceptional impact. He radius softly but with a force oxyacetylene by his painstaking wellregulated research paramount his faultless integrity. Let go had unwonted courage, timorousness, and a passion back whales make certain was quickly to not anyone. When they were threatened, he refused to possibility silent.
A numeral of celebrated at NRDC were indulged to snitch with him during representation past addon than deuce decades—not change around incidentally but in continuous defense noise the soul to which, over picture years, sand devoted his study slab advocacy chief intensely. Compile doing straightfaced, we relied heavily straighten out his dexterity, guided unreceptive his first-hand observations generate the turn, and gratifying for his willingness at this juncture and reassess to gear a situation in picture public playhouse in collection of nautical mammals go downwards anthropogenic assault.
On behalf search out NRDC scold its trillions of brothers and activists, we drive never scrap Ken Balcomb—or t
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MEET OUR EXPERT STAFF
The Center for Whale Research (CWR) has employed countless staff and volunteers during the past five decades to assist in its essential work. Each of these devoted people has contributed to the CWR cause: identifying and understanding the Salish Sea orcas and advocating for the Southern Resident orcas (SRKW) in their efforts to survive. We extend our sincerest thanks to all who have invested in our mission.
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A team of skilled and passionate animal scientists, marine photographers, public educators, and orca conservationists propels our day-to-day work. Each is a leader in their area of expertise. They continuously strive to understand the Salish Sea’s orcas better, monitor their well-being, and rejuvenate their habitat.
Dr. Darren Croft
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Center for Whale Research FOUNDER
Dr. Kenneth C. Balcomb III
On December 15, 2022, we said goodbye to
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I’m still adjusting to the world of killer whales without Ken Balcomb. Ken, who died Dec. 15 at age 82, was a constant presence throughout my career as an environmental reporter. His presence inspired many others among the so-called “killer whale community,” made of experts, observers and those who simply love and follow the stories of our beloved orcas.
Ken, who I called the dean of killer whale research, founded the Center for Whale Research and established an amazing 46-year record of every birth and death among the Southern Resident orcas. This demographic record, which lists the sex, age and individual characteristics of every single whale, is essential to our understanding of how close to extinction these whales have become.
Few, if any, wildlife populations throughout the world have been studied so thoroughly, thanks to Ken and his dedicated teams of researchers. They and a growing cadre of other experts have studied the Southern Residents month after month, year after year, in all kinds of weather. This will be Ken’s official legacy, and his life’s work will go on. But when I say that Ken has been a constant presence, I am talking about his knowledge, his intuition and — shall I say? — his stubborn persistence in many issues related to the health and vitality of