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[CULTURE] · United States, Canada · 4 sources

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Part of situation: Southern resident killer whale population status (4 clusters)

New male orca calf born to endangered Southern Resident killer whale

Southern Resident killer whales J35 Tahlequah Center for Whale Research orca calf birth endangered species

A new male orca calf, designated J65, has been born to the critically endangered Southern Resident killer whale (SRKW) population. Researchers from the Center for Whale Research first observed the calf traveling with its mother, J35 (also known as Tahlequah), on October 19. Based on sightings, the calf is estimated to be less than a week old.

Drone footage confirmed the calf is male and appears healthy, with researchers observing the newborn moving well, socializing, and nursing. This birth marks the sixth documented calf for J35. She previously gained international attention in 2018 for carrying her deceased calf for 17 days.

The birth provides a boost to the SRKW population, which was recently estimated at 76 individuals according to a photographic census. While the new calf is a positive sign, researchers noted that early life remains a significant challenge for the species, as approximately half of the calves do not survive their first year.

Entities

Center for Whale Research · J35 (Tahlequah) · J65 · Orca Behaviour Institute · San Juan Islands

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

Sources

New orca calf born to Southern Resident killer whale who carried dead calf for 17 days [cheknews.ca]
New calf born to B.C. endangered orca who carried dead newborn for 17 days - Goldstream News Gazette [goldstreamgazette.com]
New calf born to B.C. endangered orca who carried dead newborn for 17 days [oakbaynews.com]
New calf born to B.C. endangered orca who carried dead newborn for 17 days - Victoria News [vicnews.com]