Baby killer whale spotted with first-time mom near Washington, photos show
A critically endangered killer whale group has welcomed a new calf after it was spotted for the first time near Washington.
The Southern Resident killer whale baby was discovered April 6 in the Salish Sea, the Center for Whale Research said in a Facebook post.
The pod was swimming past Victoria Harbour, which is on Vancouver Island in British Columbia, when a biologist saw a peachy orange colored baby, the conservation group said.
This new calf was swimming with J-40, making her a first-time mom, the nonprofit said.
The calf has since been identified as J-63, and so far, 'there are no immediate concerns,' the nonprofit said.
'Each new calf is vitally important to this critically endangered population — every birth counts — and we're hopeful that this young whale will continue to thrive,' the whale group said.
The group said J-63 is the fourth whale to be born into the endangered whale population this past year.
One of those new whales is J-62 who was first discovered on New Year's Eve off Washington, McClatchy News reported.
What to know about the orcas
Southern Resident killer whales were listed as an endangered species in 2005 and are listed as depleted under the Marine Mammal Protection Act, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
These whales are made up of three groups: J, K and L pods. They spend summer and fall months in the Puget Sound and in the waters off southern Vancouver Island, NOAA said.
J pod frequents the western shore of the San Juan Islands.
'While most other killer whale populations are doing well, the Southern Residents are among the world's most endangered marine mammals,' the federal agency said.
Lack of prey (mainly Chinook salmon), chemical pollution and noise disturbances from vessels have all contributed to a decline in their population, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.
Additionally, for this whale population, 69% of births fail, according to a study published by researchers from the University of Washington.
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