Newest southern resident killer whale calf is a girl

Newest southern resident killer whale calf is a girl
CHEK

The Center for Whale Research has announced the newest Southern Resident Killer Whale calf born to the J-pod is a girl.

An encounter with the new calf, J59, staff for the CWR were able to determine she is female.

“The whales were very social, with lots of rolling both under and at the surface,” a post on the CWR’s website says. “During this encounter, the team managed to capture photographs and drone video of the ventral side of the pod’s youngest member, J59.”

The research centre says another girl is good news for the southern residents as the endangered species has an aging female population which is limiting reproductive possibilities.

“While one calf won’t save the population, we hope that J59 can grow to adulthood and contribute to future generations of southern residents,” the post says.

J59 was born this year and first spotted on March 1 to mom, J37, named Hy’Shqa.

Laura BroughamLaura Brougham

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