The southern resident killer whale population has welcomed a new addition as a calf was recently spotted in the waters near British Columbia.
According to the Center for Whale Research, the newborn calf was first sighted on Monday alongside its mother, known as J35 to the researchers.
The researchers from the center observed the mother and calf once again on Tuesday and identified the young whale as a male, estimated to be less than a week old.
This new calf, named J65, is the sixth documented calf of J35, with her first offspring born in 2010.
J35 has faced challenges in the past, having lost calves previously. In 2018, she carried a deceased calf for 17 days, and a calf born in 2024 did not survive.
Despite these challenges, researchers report that J65 appears to be in good health, displaying normal behaviors such as moving actively, socializing, and nursing. However, the survival rate for these calves is uncertain, with only about half making it through their first year.
Tragically, another southern resident whale, J31, was recently seen with a dead calf near Sombro Point on Vancouver Island.
As of July, the Southern Resident killer whale population numbered 76 individuals.
