Fifth new baby orca since December 2014
— from the Center for Whale Research (CWR)–
L122 with Mother L91
Photo by Dave Ellifrit, courtesy Center for Whale Research
Photo by Dave Ellifrit
Today [September 7, 2015] there was another new baby in the L pod! L91 was first seen near Sooke, BC this morning with a very newborn calf, confirmed a few hours later by Mark Malleson off Victoria, BC and CWR staffers, Dave Ellifrit and Melisa Pinnow, and by colleagues Drs. John Durban, Holly Fearnbach, and Lance Barrett-Lennard.
These latter colleagues happened to be in the area conducting a sequel to CWR aerial measurements of all of the SRKW’s (Southern Resident Killer Whales), this time with a very sophisticated hexacopter (Unmanned Aerial System – UAS, or drone). The measurements were accomplished on the US side of the border as Dave and Melissa took numerous identification photographs from the research vessel “Orca” at a respectful distance. The new calf is designated L122, and is the fifth new baby to come into the population since December, 2014. The mother and baby and other L pod whales spent the afternoon and evening in Haro Strait ‘fishing’, and by days end were joined by J and K pod members.
In the forty year history of ORCA SURVEY, a long-term photo-identification study of this whale population the greatest number of calves born in a year was 9 in 1977, and there were none born that survived in 2013 or 2014. We hope this year’s ‘baby-boom’ represents a turn-around in what has been a negative population trend in recent years. The new baby photographs and measurements will be forthcoming.
Always brings joy to my heart when I hear of the birth of more of these beautiful creatures. A blessed event indeed! Just a point of nomenclature however, these are Orcas of the Salish Sea, not the San Juan’s. Us island creatures can’t claim them. May they outlive us all!
awwwww! it’s amazing that something the size of a volkswagen can be soooooo cute!