Three New Orca Calves In Puget Sound

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By By KOMO Staff & News Services

Summary

Three killer whales have been born to Puget Sound-area orcas, boosting the resident population to 90 and continuing an apparent comeback.

Story Published: Jul 7, 2005 at 4:53 AM PDT

Story Updated: Aug 31, 2006 at 1:59 AM PDT

Three New Orca Calves In Puget Sound
FRIDAY HARBOR, WASH. - At least three killer whales have been born to Puget Sound-area orcas, boosting the resident population to 90 animals and continuing an apparent comeback, researchers say.

The calves, two first seen June 7 in L Pod and one spotted Saturday in J Pod, seem to be healthy and thriving, but the first year is always the greatest challenge, Stefan Jacobs of the Center for Whale Research on San Juan Island told the Kitsap Sun.

Jacobs said a characteristic orange coloration and "fetal folds" in the skin of the youngest, J-41, indicated he was no more than a few days old as he swam with his mother, J-91, named Shachi.

"J-41 seemed to be fairly active," Jacobs said. "He was playful and sometimes seemed to be playing on his own."

A previous calf born to Shachi died during its first year.

Last month whale watchers noticed two newborns as L Pod returned from winter travels along the coast - L-106, the offspring of L-86, a 14-year-old female named Surprise, and L-107, born to L-47, named Marina, a 32-year-old female whose previous calf survived only a month.

The Puget Sound-area resident orca population dropped from 99 in 1995 to 78 in 2000, drawing national attention and pressure on the federal government to list the three Puget Sound pods - J, K and L -as threatened under the Endangered Species Act.

Combined with four earlier births, seven orcas have been born within the three pods since October, Howard Garrett of Orca Network said.

"Going back over the records, we've never had more than six born in any calendar year," Garrett said.

Puget sound-area orcas may be making a comeback, "but it's only a glimmer of hope," he said. "They need to become reproductive for them to contribute to the community."