First Wednesdays: Lecture, Cocktail Hour, and Music

The Intelligence and Health of the Endangered Southern Resident Killer Whales

Cocktail Hour Presented by ONX Wines

Join us for an exciting discussion with Dr. Deborah Giles on Wild Orca’s Southern Resident Killer Whale Health Monitoring Program. Giles will address collaborative research projects and science on this endangered species conducted by some of the most respected names in wildlife conservation research. Learn about the intelligence, behavior and health of Southern Resident killer whales. Discover the timely data collected and shared to address the causes of population decline for this charismatic and distinctive marine mammal. Meet Eba, the canine scientist with an especially important job!

Wild Orca’s mission, to save the whales from extinction, is aided by conducting on-the-water non-invasive research, and by putting the findings into the hands of the public and policymakers so that meaningful actions can be taken to reverse the declining trend in the population.

Following the talk, guests will have the opportunity to enjoy cocktails and conversations, music and crafts in our Art Gallery. Guests will also have the opportunity to visit a single gallery with live animals: FROGS “Our Neighbors” and experience our interactive exhibits Paint-a-Frog and Paint-a-Fish. This is an adult-oriented program.

Recommended for ages 14+ (not suitable for young children).

TICKETS

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DATE

Wednesday
February 5, 2025
7:00–9:00 pm PT

COST

$5.00 per ticket for advance online reservations or $10.00 per ticket on the day of the event at the door (pending availability. Please check first).

Parking is $6.00 for the for 2.5 hours in the structure located directly across from the Aquarium. Cash bar.

CASH BAR: One complimentary beverage ticket will be provided at check-In.

Speaker Bio

Dr. Deborah Giles is the Science and Research Director at the non-profit Wild Orca. She received her PhD from the University of California Davis in 2014 – her dissertation was focused on the federally listed Southern Resident Killer Whales. Giles is currently a resident scientist and lecturer at the University of Washington’s Friday Harbor Labs, where she teaches Marine Mammals of the Salish Sea and Marine Biology.

Between 2009-2021 Giles worked as the vessel captain for the University of Washington, utilizing a scat detection dog to locate floating killer whale scat to monitor the physiological health of southern resident killer whales. This killer whale health assessment program is now a program of the non-profit Wild Orca.

Giles is also a killer whale scientific adviser for the Orca Salmon Alliance, a program advisor for Killer Whale Tales, and she is the co-founder of the San Juan Island Naturalist Program.

The Aquarium of the Pacific’s First Wednesdays series focuses on animals, nature and conservation efforts. The events bring scientists, authors, and other experts into its Honda Pacific Visions Theater for an illustrated talk paired with book signing or meet and greets and cocktail/social hours with music and crafts. The programs are best suited for high school and college students, young professionals, and adults of all ages. Lectures are also live streamed and recorded.