Whale Watchers Rejoice At Birth
Of Orca Calves

Wednesday, November 3, 2004
VICTORIA, BC - Whale researchers are optimistic the birth of two killer whale calves in October will stabilize and ultimately increase B.C.'s endangered southern resident killer whale population.

They are also encouraged by the births of 16 calves this year in the more populous northern resident population.

"It's a good thing," said John Ford, senior marine mammal scientist at the Department of Fisheries and Oceans' Pacific Biological Station in Nanaimo. "The southern residents are starting to show an increase in numbers after a steady decline and the successful calving season in the northern residents is a really great thing."

The first southern resident calf was born Oct. 8, while the second was born Oct. 17 -- both to mature females in L pod, one of three southern pods. The births of the calves, named L-104 and L-105 by researchers, boosted the southern population to 85. The whales range around southern Vancouver Island, the Gulf Islands and San Juan Islands.

Ian Stothart, owner of Naturally Salty Excursions whale-watching tours, saw an exuberant calf in early October on the west side of San Juan Island, a few days after it was born.

"He's a very cute little guy, very energetic," said Stothart. "I was able to get a picture of him because he was popping up out of the water. He was tiny, tiny. He almost looked funny because he was so small."

Whether the calves are male or female has yet to be determined.

"Neither one of them has rolled over for us yet," said Ken Balcomb, senior scientist at the Centrer for Whale Research in Friday Harbor, Wash.

VHS radios were crackling with excited chatter when whale watchers and researchers saw the first new calf. "It seemed like it was exciting for the whales as well," said Balcomb. "There was an increase in vocalization and more exciting sounds. Maybe we read into it. Anyway, everybody was happy."

Killer whale calves are usually born in the fall or winter, after a 16- or 17-month gestation period. They weigh about 175 kilograms and are about two metres long.

If the two latest calves survive, it will be good news for the troubled L pod, said Balcomb. Pods are made up of one or more mature females and their immediate descendants and usually travel together. From 1995 to 2003, the population of L pod -- the pod abandoned by the troublesome orca Luna -- declined from 50 to about 43.

"We were going downhill," said Balcomb. "But the decline leveled off in 2003 and has risen slightly this year."

The scientist is optimistic the southern resident population will increase because colder, oceanic La Nina conditions have brought bigger and healthier runs of salmon -- which killer whales feed on -- than seven or eight years ago.

The birth of the calves will give researchers more information on calf mortality rates, which are high at 40 to 45 per cent, said Ford. Winter seems to be more difficult, since it's a time of increased mortality for killer whales. Scientists on both sides of the border will try and track the calves to see where they go and what they're feeding on.

"We'll see if they survive the winter," said Ford.

The first calf's chances appear to be better than the second calf's. The mother of the second baby has already outlived her four previous calves. Her first calf, a male born in 1980, lived for 20 years but did not seem to develop properly. Scientists don't know why he died. Another male, born in 1984, died in 1993. The cause of his death is unknown. A third calf, born in 1990, died in 1993. Scientists never discovered whether that calf was male or female or why it died. Another female born in 1995 died in 1998.

The mother of the first calf gave birth to a female in 1986 and a male in 1996. Both are still healthy.

Like his fellow researchers, Dr. Peter Ross, a marine mammal toxicologist at the Institute of Ocean Sciences, is excited by the births. But after documenting high levels of PCBs and flame retardant chemicals in this population of killer whales, Ross is cautious about their survival.

"Every individual is important to a small population," said Ross. "But I remain concerned that the young calves will be exposed to high levels of toxic contaminants through their mother's milk. We need more research and we need preventative measures to stop the poisons from entering killer whale habitat."

The last sighting of L-pod was three days ago in Haro Strait.