This Is Wild, WWF-Canada's hit podcast, returns with a look at the fragile future of southern resident killer whales and other species at risk
Hosted by award-winning filmmaker and environmental journalist Aliya Jasmine, the second season premieres Sept. 17.
TORONTO, Sept. 17, 2026 /CNW/ -- WWF-Canada's top science podcast This Is Wild returns for a second season, opening with a powerful episode about the urgent threats facing southern resident killer whales, one of Canada's most iconic species.
The season premiere revisits the story of Tahlequah, the southern resident killer whale who captured international attention in 2018 when she carried her dead calf through the Salish Sea for 17 days (a behaviour we saw again in 2025 after the tragic loss of another calf). Her journey became a symbol of this orca population in crisis and raised awareness about the immense pressures they're facing.
Declining chinook salmon populations, underwater noise from vessels and industry, and pollution are just some of the growing threats to southern resident killer whales. Today, only around 75 remain, with their future hanging in a precarious balance.
Episode 1 features WWF-Canada conservation experts Hussein Alidina and Emily Giles alongside Ecojustice lawyer Margot Venton with narration by award-winning environmental journalist Aliya Jasmine. Together they explore the science behind these threats, the conservation efforts aimed at supporting their recovery, and the legal and policy hurdles that are slowing down action and ramping up risks.
"We know better. We have to do better. It's our responsibility to do better. And we need to do that better because in many ways, we're part of the same circle of life that the whales are," said Hussein Alidina, WWF-Canada's lead specialist for marine conservation.
"Southern resident killer whales are one of the most beloved species in Canada, and one of the most endangered. At a time when Canada is accelerating approvals for major projects like ports and pipelines that risk their survival, the first episode of This is Wild asks the important question of what we're willing to lose for economic gain," said Megan Leslie, WWF-Canada's president and CEO. "Each episode takes listeners to different parts of the country, exploring the species that are shaping our world and what it will take to protect theirs."
Co-produced with Antica Productions, the second season of This Is Wild continues WWF-Canada's commitment to making conservation stories engaging and accessible.
Aliya Jasmine previously appeared on an episode of WWF-Canada's Good Nature podcast, talking about her new short documentary Bird Names.
Listen to season two of This is Wild wherever you get your podcasts. New episodes about a different incredible species that call Canada home, and the people working to protect them, will be released every two weeks.
- YouTube
- Apple Podcasts
- Spotify
- Podlink for more streaming platforms
- https://wwf.ca/this-is-wild/
For a copy of the episode transcript or to arrange an interview with our experts, email [email protected]
About the host, Aliya Jasmine
Aliya Jasmine ("AJ") is an award-winning filmmaker, environmental journalist and climate storyteller whose work sits at the intersection of climate solutions, wildlife and belonging. Her stories have appeared on CBC, NBC News, MTV News, Discovery Channel, and Smithsonian Channel, and she has built a large trusted online community through years of broadcast journalism, digital-first reporting and environmental storytelling.
AJ is co-Founder of Earth Tones, a purpose-driven media company amplifying underrepresented voices in environmental storytelling. AJ directed, wrote and produced Bird Names, a CBC Short Docs documentary with an impact campaign spanning private, public, academic, and conservation-facing screenings. She is also directing Lion Bridge, an independent feature documentary from Executive Producer Leonardo DiCaprio, about LA's mountain lion population, currently in production.
She is a recipient of the King Charles III Coronation Medal for journalism in service of Canada, a Fellow of the Royal Canadian Geographical Society, and serves on the board of Nature United.
About WWF-Canada
WWF-Canada is committed to equitable and effective conservation actions that restore nature, reverse wildlife loss and fight climate change. We draw on scientific analysis and Indigenous guidance to ensure all our efforts connect to a single goal: a future where wildlife, nature and people thrive. For more information, visit wwf.ca.
SOURCE World Wildlife Fund Canada
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