In good news for J-pod, new killer whale calf is a female

The Center for Whale Research says it has confirmed a new killer whale calf in a pod of endangered orcas that live off B.C.'s southwest coast is female. 

It's a piece of good news for J-pod, after the recent death of another calf whose mother carried the carcass for days in what researchers said was a display of grief.

The Washington state-based organization said on social media that the new calf known as J62 was seen on Feb. 8 off the San Juan Island, and researchers were able to photograph her belly and confirm her sex.

The group says the calf appears to be doing well and is "filling out nicely."

The centre has previously said that new females are important for southern resident killer whales as they are "largely limited by the number of reproductively aged females."

LISTEN:

Killers: J pod on the brink35:12Episode 1: “Tapping Out”

Hope turns to dismay as a new J pod calf dies before researchers arrive. When mother J35 carries its corpse for 17 days and 1000 miles, the world wakes up to the plight of the Southern Residents. Some call it grief; others, a message, and the drama of that hot summer becomes a symbol of the struggle to save J pod.

The post this week also said researchers were able to confirm the adult female J35, or Tahlequah, is no longer carrying the body of her dead calf, which she started pushing around on Jan. 1.

Researchers have previously said the behaviour is an apparent act of grief, and that J35 has now lost two of her four documented calves.

She captured headlines worldwide when she pushed the remains of another calf for 17 days in 2018.