New southern resident orca calf discovered off B.C. coast

A new southern resident killer whale calf has been born off the B.C. coast, bringing positive news for a critically endangered population. The U.S.-based Center for Whale Research says the calf was spotted travelling with J35 on Monday. Researchers have named the male calf J65 and say it is less than a week old.

The centre said in a social media post Wednesday that its team saw no signs of health problems. They observed the calf moving well, socializing and nursing from J35. The organization cautioned that early life is challenging for these whales: only half make it through their first year.

According to the Center for Whale Research, J65 is J35’s sixth calf. She has two living sons and was seen carrying a dead female calf for 17 days in 2018.

The southern resident population stood at 76 as of July 1. The new calf brings the total to 77. The centre says 2026 was the group’s second consecutive year of growth, but its numbers remain below historic levels and it reproduces more slowly than other killer whale populations.

Unlike transient killer whales, southern residents primarily eat Chinook salmon, and their survival depends on the availability of the fish.