The Associated Press
SEATTLE — A Canadian whale researcher is reporting that a new calf has been born to the critically endangered Southern Resident orcas that live between Washington state and Canada.
The Seattle Times reported John Forde was out on the water Thursday near Tofino, British Columbia, when he spotted a baby alongside what he considered to be the mother, J31.
Forde owns a whale-watch company, but was out on his research permit doing photo identification when he saw the baby.
This is the second calf born to the Southern Residents since January, good news for a population that with the new calf numbers 76 whales.
Forde posted photos of the calf on his company’s blog.
Researchers at the Center for Whale Research in Friday Harbor confirmed that the calf is a new addition.
Judging by its coloration and body condition, they said that the calf likely was born sometime in the last one to three weeks.
The calf was photographed in association with several J pod females, including J31, J46 and J40, researchers said in a press release on Friday, adding that more field observations are needed to confirm the identity of the calf’s mother.
The last new calf, L124, was born to Southern Resident orca L77 in January — the first documented successful birth among the Southern Residents since 2016 — and is still alive.
Orca calves face a perilous first year, with only about 50 percent surviving.
