FRIDAY HARBOR, Wash. — Our endangered Southern Resident orcas appear to have a new calf in their family.
The Center for Whale Research, based in Friday Harbor, shared pictures of the J pod calf next to its mother on its Facebook page Tuesday.
Researchers believe it was born to a first-time mother.
“We hope to see lots more of this calf in the coming weeks and months, and that both the calf and its mother will be able to thrive,” the post said.
On Friday, the Orca Conservancy shared that the calf is a boy.
“While the mother has yet to be officially confirmed, researchers have observed the calf traveling alongside J40 Suttles in multiple encounters, making it highly likely that she is the mother,” it said.