Seattle’s complicated history with orcas

Knute Berger examines Namu the orca's jawbone at the Burke Museum Mammal Collection. (Video still by Eric Keto/KCTS 9)

Amid recent news of an orca mother carrying her dead calf and the reaction it garnered from humans around the world, Knute Berger reflects on our local connection with orcas. Namu, the first live, captive orca was displayed on the Seattle waterfront in 1965. Knute Berger charts the rise and fall of the whale that would come to define our relationship with orcas.

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About the Authors & Contributors

Eric Keto

Eric Keto

Eric Keto is formerly a video producer for Crosscut and KCTS 9.

Knute Berger

Knute Berger

Knute “Mossback” Berger is an editor-at-large at Cascade PBS.