There are, at most, only 76 southern resident killer whales left in the world. They're endangered, and researchers and governments are struggling to figure out how best to save them. Right now, there's growing concern about the fate of J17, the matriarch of one of the most studied orca families, J pod - as she was recently spotted emaciated.

Killers: J pod on the brink is a new CBC podcast that dives deep into what's putting B.C.'s orca population at risk — from climate change to politics. Today on Front Burner, producer Catherine Rolfsen on why these marine mammals matter.