'Extinction is not an option': the $1bn push to save orcas in Washington

Governor proposes destroying dams, repairing habitats and limiting whale-watching in bid to save struggling creatures

Five months after twin tragedies cast a spotlight on the state's ailing orcas, Washington plans to spend more than $1bn to stave off extinction.

If enacted, a proposal from the governor, Jay Inslee, would knock down two dams, repair habitat and place a three-year ban on orca watching. Crucially, Inslee hopes to shore up salmon runs that feed the orca while cleaning and quieting the waters in which they live.