Breathing new life into killer whale conservation 🐋 Southern Resident killer whales are critically endangered. To help protect them, researchers from San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, alongside partners from seadocsociety and noaa, are pioneering a new approach: collecting their breath. Using drones, scientists safely fly through a whale’s misted exhale, capturing droplets that reveal hormones, disease markers, and DNA. These tiny samples hold enormous insight and allow us to help monitor their individual health in real time. This collaborative effort to understand killer whale health helps us to better protect killer whales and the oceans they depend on. 🎥: NMFS EPA Permit #26288-01 #worldwhaleday #oceans #collaborativeconservation #savingspecies