The Pacific Whale Watch Association says the Salish Sea’s first humpback calf of 2022 has been spotted in Boundary Pass.
The calf is the seventh born to BCY0324, known as “Big Mama.”
Western Prince Whale Watching was out on Monday afternoon when naturalist Bethany Shimasaki reported the whale and calf.
Images of the mother and calf revealed Big Mama’s signature, a small bump on the right side of her dorsal fin.
The match has since been confirmed by B.C.-based researcher Tasli Shaw of the Humpback Whales of the Salish Sea project.
We’ve spotted the first Salish Sea humpback whale calf of the season, and it belongs to none other than Big Mama! The Salish Sea celebrity is back from Hawaii with her *seventh* calf in tow! 🐋🎉
Click to read more: https://t.co/85JfJ9Xlmh pic.twitter.com/JA8y04ULK4
— Pacific Whale Watch Association 🐳 (@ThePWWA) May 4, 2022
“When the news traveled over the radio, there was instant celebration,” said PWWA’s executive director, Erin Gless. “Big Mama was one of the first humpback whales to repopulate the Salish Sea after the whaling era and has been feeding here regularly since 1997. We always look forward to her return, but even more so when she brings a calf with her.”
Gless says Captain Steve’s Rafting Adventures of Lahaina, Hawaii reported seeing Big Mama with a newborn in February, so the sighting did not come as a surprise.
The sighting in Boundary Pass means Big Mama and her new calf made the 3,000 mile swim from Hawaii to the Salish Sea, which the PWWA says is a journey fraught with threats including fishing gear, commercial shipping traffic, and killer whales.
Big Mama’s last calf “Pop-Tart” was born in 2016 and was named for its fondness of playfully popping out of the water, which the PWWA says the new calf also shares the same spirit.
The new calf was seen breaching, cartwheeling, and splashing throughout the day.
More humpbacks will return to the Salish Sea from breeding grounds in Hawaii, Mexico, and Central America in the coming weeks, and the whales typically stay in the region through spring, summer and fall.
According to the PWWA last year a record number of 21 calves were spotted throughout the Salish Sea.
Laura Brougham
