New southern resident orca calf J57 is a boy, researchers say

Posted: Sep. 23, 2020 2:18PM | Last Updated: Sep. 23, 2020 2:59PM

Photo by Katie Jones, Center for Whale Research

J35 and J57

The newest southern resident orca in the J-pod is a boy, according to researchers with the Center for Whale Research.

The center made the announcement on Wednesday, saying a photograph has led to confirmation the new calf, J57, is a male.

“This feisty young boy was seen last evening, September 22, near Point Roberts, Washington. He was photographed rolling, spy-hopping, and swimming alongside his mother, who was actively foraging for food,” the center wrote in its update.

J57 was estimated to have been born on Sept. 4 and is the second viable calf of mother, J35, Tahlequah.

J57’s brother, J47, was born in 2010. The mother, J35, made international headlines in 2018 after giving birth to a calf that died. She carried her deceased calf for 17 days before letting it go.

“For the southern resident killer whale community’s population sustainability, it is preferred that new calves are female,” the center wrote.

“But regardless of gender, J57 is a very welcome addition. He is robust and appears healthy.”

The Southern Resident killer whales (also called orcas/Orcinus orca) are a large extended family, or clan, comprised of three pods: J, K, and L pods.

The endangered whales have struggled in recent years. The southern residents primarily eat chinook salmon, which has become scarce.

Because of nutritional stress, many pregnancies fail and there is a 40 per cent mortality rate for young calves, according to the Center for Whale Research.