Photo: "Critical Habitat" for Orcas Leaves Pockets of Vulnerability, Critics Say



Thousands of people visit Washington State's Puget Sound each year to see killer whales, also known as orcas, like this animal seen breaching.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has proposed that a vast swath of the Puget Sound region be granted federal protections to ensure the survival of an iconic killer whale population. But conservationists, residents, and developers are at odds over how much and which parts of the sound would be covered by the proposed regulations.

Photograph by Brandon Cole/Getty


NEWS FEEDS    After installing a news reader, click on this icon to download National Geographic News's XML/RSS feed. After installing a news reader, click on this icon to download National Geographic News's XML/RSS feed.

Get our news delivered directly to your desktop—free.
How to Use XML or RSS

ADVERTISEMENT

NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC'S PHOTO OF THE DAY

50 Drives of a Lifetime

National Geographic Traveler has scoured the globe for the world's most beautiful, interesting, and off-beat road trips. Dive in to get drive directions, quizzes, photos, and more.