New baby orca joins Puget Sound pod

By Associated Press

Summary

Following reports of a possible new calf, members of the Center for Whale Research this week observed J-pod and spotted the calf on Wednesday off the west coast of Vancouver Island.

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Story Published: May 3, 2007 at 4:45 PM PST

Story Updated: May 3, 2007 at 9:37 PM PST

New baby orca joins Puget Sound pod
SEATTLE (AP) - There's a new baby orca in Puget Sound.

Following reports of a possible new calf, members of the Center for Whale Research this week observed J-pod - one of three pods of southern resident killer whales in the region - and spotted the calf on Wednesday off the west coast of Vancouver Island.

The calf was born to an orca identified as J16. The mother, estimated to be about 35 years old, has given birth to three other calves. The new baby, J42, apparently was born this week, the center said.

The birth brings the population of southern resident whales to 87.

The Center for Whale Research is based in Friday Harbor in the San Juan Islands.