Orca Calf Spotted Near Victoria Fifth Birth Of The Year Thrills Whale Experts

VICTORIA -- It's being called a killer whale 'baby boom.' Five births in one year for a community of less than 90 southern resident orcas who call the waters off Victoria home for much of the year. "Anytime we hear of any youngster in an endangered population it is good news but especially good news when it's our southern residents" says Marine Zoologist Anna Hall.

The latest reason for whale watchers to pop the cork came on Remembrance Day when whale researcher Mark Malleson snapped a picture of the baby boy or girl near Victoria.

We won't know if the calf is male or female for months or even years depending on when researchers can get a good look at its underside. "The black and white markings vary between males and females right from birth so if we can get a nice look or he/she is playing and surfaces we might know right away" adds Hall.

About 10 years ago the southern resident population plummeted by 20 percent when its food supply - chinook salmon - also nosedived. But now that's turning around, experts say the whales' behavior this year indicates they have been well fed.

That doesn't mean the little one born to 16-year old first-time mom Polaris will survive the winter. It has only about a 50/50 shot. Experts say ocean contaminants that get into the whales' fat tissue are partially to blame. "Everybody knows mother's milk helps babies keep warm and grow, partially because it's very fat rich. So with a first mother we can get the effect of a toxic cocktail coming through in the mother's milk" says Hall.

Hall says the calf does have one very important factor in its favour, a strong and loving support system. "We certainly do see that with this family. Its grandmother 'J17' is well known in these parts and was a great mother to her calves."

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