2 Newborn Orcas Sighted

Tuesday, October 19, 2004
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - Two newborn orcas have been welcomed into L Pod, one of the three groups of killer whales that frequent Puget Sound.

The two births — with no deaths so far this year — boost the total number for all three pods to 85. The two births renew hope for a population that declined suddenly and mysteriously from 99 to 78 orcas a few years ago, raising red flags among state and federal biologists.

One of the new babies, designated L-104, was born last week to L-43, also known as Jelly Roll, officials said. The other, designated L-105, was born over the weekend to L-27, or Ophelia.

The announcement of Ophelia's new baby is blunted by the history of this 40-year-old female, said Ken Balcomb, who heads the Center for Whale Research in the San Juan Islands.

"She has had four (calves) before and they have all died," Balcomb said. "We're hoping this one makes it."

Ophelia was one of the 19 killer whales that stayed for a month in Dyes Inlet in 1997. At the time, two of her offspring were alive, but they later died.

Jelly Roll, a 32-year-old mother, has had two offspring, Racer (L-72) and Nigel (L-95), and both are still living.

At the moment, both of the newborns seem to be healthy and energetic, Balcomb said. They were exhibiting the characteristic orange tint on areas of their bodies that will become white as they get a little older.

The sex of the youngsters might not be known until they get older. With sexually mature males in all three pods, it would be nice if the youngsters survived to become reproductive females to help rebuild the population, Balcomb said.

Because of the mysterious population decline from 1995 to 2000 and the high level of toxic chemicals found in the whales, Puget Sound's orcas have been declared a "depleted" population under the Marine Mammal Protection Act and "endangered" under Washington state law. Not counting Luna (L-98), who is living alone in Canada, L Pod now stands at 43 animals, with 22 in J Pod and 20 in K Pod.

On Sunday and Monday, L Pod was back in the San Juan Islands after being gone for about a week. Since the beginning of the month, some of the whales have ventured south to the Kitsap Peninsula, where several sightings have been reported.

See an orca?

To assist with winter research, anyone who spots orcas is asked to call Orca Network toll-free at 866-ORCANET, or e-mail info@orcanetwork.org.