It’s a girl! Scientists say a female killer whale has been born to endangered pod in the Pacific Northwest, raising hopes for the struggling population as only 76 remain
- The new baby will be known as J56 and is estimated to have been born on May 24
- The mother and three other females appeared to be ‘showing off’ the new calf
- Southern Resident killer whales have struggled in recent years for many reasons
- Decline of their main prey, Chinook salmon, and marine traffic pose major threat
Researchers tracking an endangered population of killer whales off the coast of Washington have spotted a new sign of hope: a female baby.
Southern Resident killer whales, a group made up of just three pods in the region, have faced increasing hardship in recent years as their main food source, the Chinook salmon, declines.
The population now sits at a total of about 76, and recent studies have shown that on top of food scarcity and marine traffic, these whales also suffer high miscarriage rates.
This makes the recent birth all the more exciting, scientists say, especially since the mother’s most recent birth before this was ultimately unsuccessful.
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Researchers tracking an endangered population of killer whales off the coast of Washington have spotted a new sign of hope: a female baby. The new baby (pictured above with her mom) will be known as J56 and is estimated to have been born on May 24
According to the Center for Whale Research, the baby was born to the J-pod of whales around the end of May.
It was first reported off the coast of British Columbia near Tofino on May 30, and researchers at the time estimated it to be about a week or so old.
The baby was seen and photographed again in the same area on June 9th.
But until now, its sex has eluded whale watchers.
A break finally came this past week when the mother, a 24-year-old orca called J31, appeared to be parading her newborn around with a group of other females, giving observers the best look at the baby yet.
‘Near Pile Point, San Juan Island, the new mother J31 swam around in circles with her new calf and three other young females – it looked for very much like they were showing off this new addition to the population,’ the Center for Whale Research said in a statement posted to its website.
‘In a very brief moment, the baby popped to the surface with its underside exposed, revealing it was a female!’
The new baby will be known as J56 and is estimated to have been born on May 24.
Her mother, whose previous birthing attempt in January 2016 failed, is not known to have been pregnant any other time in the last 10 years.
The population now sits at a total of just 76, and recent studies have shown that on top of food scarcity and marine traffic, these whales also suffer high miscarriage rates. This makes the recent birth all the more exciting, scientists say
The researchers plan to do another recount of the population as the summer progresses.
While their numbers last sat at 75 – with the new baby bringing this to 76 – the team suggests there have been deaths in the time since.
Even at the 2018 count of 75, researchers said the population was at its lowest in three decades. Southern Resident killer whales include three distinct pods: the J-pod, the K-pod, and the L-pod.
The new calf finally offers a glimmer of hope.
According to CWR, the baby girl is ‘a very welcome addition to this endangered population of whales that has experienced so much bad news recently with whales appearing skinny and passing away.’
