Newborn orca calf spotted, raising a little hope for endangered southern resident killer whales

A recent sighting of a newborn orca calf in Puget Sound, Washington has given hope to conservationists working to protect the endangered southern resident killer whale population. The Centre for Whale Research reported that the calf was seen swimming alongside J35, a female orca known as Tahlequah from J pod. While researchers have not yet confirmed the calf’s parentage, they are eager to conduct further observations to determine its lineage.

Tahlequah gained international attention in 2018 when she carried the body of her deceased calf for 17 days in what scientists described as a “tour of grief.” Despite this loss, Tahlequah has two other successful calves, J47 and J57. The recent sighting of a calf swimming with her has sparked cautious optimism within the scientific community.

The southern resident killer whales, a distinct population that inhabits the waters of the Pacific Northwest, are listed as endangered under Canada’s Species at Risk Act. With their numbers dwindling to just 72 individuals as of November, every new birth is considered a fragile milestone for this struggling population. J pod, the group that the calf was seen with, consists of only 25 members, making each new addition significant for their survival.

However, the survival rate for newborn orca calves is precarious, with approximately half not making it through their first year. Factors contributing to their high mortality rate include contamination from pollutants passed from mothers to calves, as well as the decline in their primary food source, chinook salmon. Additionally, vessel-related noise and the dangers of vessel strikes pose further threats to their survival.

Despite these challenges, conservation groups and researchers remain hopeful that the new calf spotted in Puget Sound will defy the odds. The Orca Conservancy expressed optimism that this little one will inspire continued efforts to protect the southern resident killer whales. Michael Weiss of the Centre for Whale Research echoed this sentiment, stating, “We’re really hoping that this one can beat the odds.”

In the face of adversity, the sighting of this new calf serves as a reminder of the importance of ongoing conservation efforts to ensure the survival of the endangered southern resident killer whale population.