3 Babies Good Sign for Orca Population

Friday, July 7, 2005
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - Three new orca babies, confirmed by the Center for Whale Research, boosts the Puget Sound orca population to 90 animals, continuing a favorable trend.

The population had dropped from 99 in 1995 to 78 in 2000, triggering a wave of national attention and pressuring the federal government to list the three Puget Sound pods as a threatened species.

The newborns — two in L Pod and one in J Pod — seem to be healthy and thriving, according to Stefan Jacobs of the Center for Whale Research in the San Juan Islands. Still, getting past the first year is always the greatest challenge.

On Saturday, Jacobs observed the newest orca, designated J-41, as it swam with its mother J-19, named Shachi. A characteristic orange coloration and "fetal folds" in the newborn's skin indicated that it was no more than a few days old, he said. A previous calf born to Shachi died during its first year.

"J-41 seemed to be fairly active," Jacobs said. "He was playful and sometimes seemed to be playing on his own."

The other two newborns were spotted by whale watchers June 7, when L Pod returned from winter travels along the West Coast. L-106 is the offspring of L-86, a 14-year-old female named Surprise. L-107 is the offspring of L-47, named Marina, a 32-year-old female, whose previous calf survived only a month. Marina and her two older offspring are among the "Dyes Inlet whales," which stayed in waters between Bremerton and Silverdale for a month in 1997.

Howard Garrett of Orca Network said the "baby boom" over the past two years is encouraging.

"I think it gives us some hope that they may be coming back," Garrett said, "but it's only a glimmer of hope. They need to become reproductive for them to contribute to the community."

The three Puget Sound pods are known as the Southern Resident Community, a fish-eating group like the northern residents that reside mostly in Canada.

Since October, seven orcas have been born to the three southern resident pods, Garrett noted.

"Going back over the records, we've never had more than six born in any calendar year," he added.

National Marine Fisheries Service has proposed listing the southern residents as threatened. A final decision is expected before the end of the year.

The 90 population figure does not include Luna, a young male stranded in Nootka Sound in Canada.

L Pod along with K Pod left the San Juan Islands a few days ago, traveling through the Strait of Juan de Fuca, which is typical for early summer. J Pod continues to meander through the islands, crossing into Canada.

Source: The Kitsap Sun