Saving Springer How NOAA helped an orca go home Mark Sears Global Research and Rescue

Introduction Who is Springer? Orphaned orca calf Lost near Seattle Rescued and returned to her pod (2002) Still healthy and with her pod! (2011) Mark Sears

Introduction Why tell Springer’s story? First and only successful return of an orca to the wild To get Springer home, people had to work together Mark Sears

Introduction What will you learn? Who Springer is and how she went home All about orcas How people helped: NOAA Community Kids! What you can do to help whales now NOAA

Introduction What is NOAA? N = National O = Oceanic and A = Atmospheric A = Administration Studies and protects the air and the oceans Co-led Springer project

Introduction Today’s activities Watch DVD – “Saving Springer: Orphan Orca” Mark Sears