ORCAS: Another birth for Southern Resident Killer Whales

The endangered Southern Resident Killer Whales have another new calf. The news comes from the Center for Whale Research, which announced just three weeks ago that a newborn had arrived in J-Pod – same group in which this one was born. The new mother is 15-year-old J41, whose first calf was born five years ago. The announcement notes, “CWR will eagerly await the whales’ return to evaluate the calf’s condition and hopefully determine its sex. … We will reserve its alpha-numeric designation until it proves to be healthy when the pod returns to Salish Sea waters. Approximately 40% of newborn calves do not survive their neonatal first few weeks.” CWR recently announced that J-Pod’s first newborn of the month, J57, is male.

5 Replies to "ORCAS: Another birth for Southern Resident Killer Whales"

  • Sunflower September 25, 2020 (8:19 pm)

    Wonderful news!

    Any updates regarding the other recent new calf? I think they came right before the wildfire smoke set in here… I wonder how that has impacted marine life.

    Also, been wondering, any news regarding salmon recovery efforts in WS this season?

    • WSB September 25, 2020 (8:41 pm)

      As mentioned and linked above, the most recent update on the previous calf is that he’s confirmed male and doing well.

      • Sunflower September 25, 2020 (8:49 pm)

        Sorry for my sleepy reading there, thanks for sharing this update and the links! 
        Hopeful to read that the male calf appears feisty and robust.

  • Nw mama September 25, 2020 (11:42 pm)

    15 is way too young to have kids! 

  • anonyme September 26, 2020 (7:24 am)

    Fingers crossed that the new baby survives – and is female.  The pod needs more young females for reproduction.  I have hope that orca will survive as an intelligent species to replace the stupid humans that are driving themselves to extinction.  Pun intended.

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