New calf spotted with southern resident killer whale K Pod

Posted: Jul. 10, 2022 1:58PM | Last Updated: Jul. 11, 2022 1:04PM

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The new calf, designated K45, was spotted with its mother on July 9, 2022. (Mark Malleson, Center for Whale Research)

A new calf has been spotted with the southern resident killer whale K Pod, making this the first calf born to the pod in 11 years.

The calf, designated K45, is the first calf born to the pod since K27 gave birth to K44 in 2011.

Meet K45! On July 9, we met the newest member of K Pod, K45. CWR received word that SRKWS were inbound from the west side of Vancouver Island, and in the group were members of K Pod whom we had not seen since November 21, 2021. https://t.co/bnt9aqQjRk pic.twitter.com/YhPQEVvgcA

— Whale Research (@CWROrcas) July 10, 2022

The pod had been spotted earlier this year with a possible sighting of the new calf, but it was able to be photographed and confirmed on July 9.

K45 is the second calf for K20, or Spock. She gave birth to K38, Comet, in 2004.

The sex of the new calf has yet to be determined.

Center for Whale Research field biologist Mark Malleson spotted the K Pod on July 9 northeast of Race Rocks. The group was able to confirm Spock was travelling with her new calf.

The CWR notes the size and shape are typical of a calf in good physical condition.

This is the second calf spotted in southern resident killer whales this year, after the J Pod’s calf J59.