Jpod baby J52
Image of the new Jpod Baby J52, taken by Jeanne Hyde
ANOTHER JPOD BABY J52!
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Michael Harris, Executive Director,
Pacific Whale Watch Association / (206) 465-6692
March 30, 2015
NEW PHOTOS AVAILABLE!
Pacific Whale Watch Association Crews Report Another Birth Today in
Southern Resident Community, Its Fourth Calf in Three Months – Confirmed
by Center for Whale Research
Newborn J-Pod calf seen today near Active Pass, BC.
The baby boom continues in Orca Country.
Pacific Whale Watch Association (PWWA) crews report today a new calf
spotted among the endangered Southern Resident Community, the
population’s fourth baby in three months. The birth was confirmed
tonight by the Center for Whale Research.
Naturalist/researcher Jeanne Hyde was onboard with Capt. Spencer Domico
of Maya’s Legacy Whale Watching shortly after noon today watching the
subgroup J16s with their three-month-old calf J50 off Galiano Island,
BC.
“We were assuming we had only the J16s,” recounts Hyde. “And as they
passed in front of the boat I saw a small calf surfacing next to J16 and
said, ‘there’s the baby.’ But then J50 surfaced behind all the rest.
That’s when I told Spencer, ‘I think there are two calves!”
The crew noted heavy fetal folds on the baby, which indicates that it was newborn.
Also out today with the newest addition to the Southern Resident
Community were Capt. Jim Maya of Maya’s Legacy Whale Watching on San
Juan Island, and Capt. Mark Malleson of Prince of Whales of Whales Whale
Watching in Victoria.
“J-Pod is certainly doing all it can to rebuild the ranks,” explains
Michael Harris, Executive Director of the PWWA, which represents 29
whale watch operators in Washington and British Columbia taking out
about a half-million passengers a year. “The Southern Residents are a
long way from being out of the woods, these calves too, but this is
great news. We’re going to keep a careful watch on these babies and our
fingers crossed – and of course continue to do everything we can to
rebuild these salmon runs and feed these whales. There’s still a lot of
work to be done, but it’s pretty clear the efforts PWWA and so many
other groups are undertaking on both sides of the border on salmon
recovery is taking us in the right direction. Let’s hope this baby boom
means these endangered population has finally turned the corner.”
This latest addition would bring the Southern Residents to 81
individuals, with its 82nd member, the L-Pod whale Lolita, now in Miami
Seaquarium.
HOW TO HELP: For all those who want to help the whales, become a Member
of The Center for Whale Research! The Pacific Whale Watch Association is
proud to be a longtime supporter of Ken Balcomb and his team. Help them
help the whales. www.whaleresearch.com
We were fortunate to get a call just after we left the harbour that
Orcas had been spotted once again at Hein Bank so off we headed. The
Orcas were in close formation and traveling north whilst we were on
scene with them. We got some nice views of TO75B2 and the pod swam by
and the baby was sticking close to the mothers side.
The Orcas hugged the shoreline as they circled around Henry Island and
then headed over to Spieden Island. Apart from the Orcas we also got to
see several large Stellar Sea Lions at Kelp Reef as well as Harbor Seals
and Bald Eagles at the Chain Islets. It was another wonderful day!
