The endangered population of southern resident killer whales off the coast of B.C. have a new addition.
Scientists say a 40-year-old female in the J-pod of orcas gave birth sometime in the last few days, and the calf, J50, appears to be healthy.
The 40-year-old mother, J16, nicknamed Slick, was seen swimming with her calf and its eight-year-old sister off the Gulf Islands on Tuesday.
The new baby brings the pod’s population to 78. Fifteen years ago the pod was more than 100 members.
The birth comes just weeks after the death of J32, or Rhapsody, that was found dead near Courtenay. A necropsy revealed the pregnant whale died while trying to rid her body of an already-deceased calf.
Rhapsody’s thin blubber layer and dryness of oil suggest she was malnourished for an extended time, and had been relying on body fat to survive.
The Center for Whale Research has just successfully tagged a member of the J-pod with a satellite locator, and it’s hoped keeping tabs on the pod will help them learn more about their winter roaming habits.
Researchers say the pod suffers from two ongoing problems: a shrinking food supply and problematic pollution.
