National Geographic News, Reporting Your World Daily

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

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


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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