New baby orca sighted in Haro Strait, off Saanich

The Center for Whale Research on Saturday confirmed the discovery of another calf born into the endangered Southern Resident Community.

An orca baby boom continues in local waters with another young whale being spotted Saturday in Haro Strait, between Vancouver Island and San Juan Island. Photos of J53 have shown “fetal folds”, or folded skin, indicating it was born a few days ago, Harris said.

Announcing the finding though its Facebook account, the Center for Whale Research said J53 was seen traveling with mother J17 for the first time on Saturday.

Scientists say the birth of yet another new member in a pod of endangered killer whales off B.C.’s coast is proof the population is rebounding.

The birth of the new baby brought the number of whales documented in Puget Sound’s three resident orca populations to 83.

The newest birth raises the population to 83, Harris said. The 83rd member is L-Pod whale Lolita, who is now in captivity in Miami Seaquarium.

At that point, “some of the most optimistic researchers were saying we might not be able to turn this tide, this slide toward extinction”, said Harris.

Conservationists are thrilled. The newborn orca is the sixth baby born to Puget Sound’s three pods since last December, boosting their numbers to 82.

“It confirms what we’ve been saying for years – you can’t address recovery of orcas without addressing chinook”, he said. “We’ll see grandmothers or siblings giving mom a break”.