Fears Grow for the Future of Recently Born Orca Calf

Exciting developments have emerged for the orca community as a new calf has been sighted swimming in the Salish Sea.

As reported in a post on Facebook by the Orca Conservancy on Tuesday, the Center for Whale Research verified that orca J35 Tahlequah has given birth to a new calf named J61. However, the news carries a bittersweet tone as researchers have expressed their concerns regarding its well-being.

SR3 SeaLife Response, Rehabilitation, and Research is the organization that measures the body dimensions of the whales. According to SR3 researchers, referenced by the Orca Conservancy, it is believed that the calf is premature, and Tahlequah was in poor body condition in October.

“Ideally, mothers should be strong with sufficient fat reserves to meet the demands of lactation,” stated the Orca Conservancy in its Facebook announcement.

Scientists from West Coast Fisheries Management and Marine Life Protection, a component of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), observed the new calf and returned with alarming information.

“They noted the calf remaining submerged for extended periods, suggesting attempts to nurse,” commented the Orca Conservancy. “The calf was also seen being pushed around on J35’s head and did not appear lively, which raises concerns. However, they added that calf behavior remains incompletely understood. All these conditions highlight the necessity for the recovery of salmon stocks to enable the growth of the population.”

Additional whale news: Family of orca Tokitae revisits the site of her capture over 50 years later

The Orca Conservancy indicates that J61 is Tahlequah’s third healthy calf. Her previous two offspring are J47 Notch and J57 Phoenix, both male. However, NOAA has suggested that J61 is likely female.

Tahlequah gained attention in 2018 when she was observed near the San Juan Islands with her deceased calf for over two weeks and a journey of 1,000 miles.

“I consistently tend to lean towards cautious optimism with new southern resident calves, given their 50% mortality rate, and researchers have apprehensions regarding J61,” stated a spokesperson from the Orca Conservancy through the Facebook video.

The spokesperson concluded the video by emphasizing the significance of salmon and the ongoing battle to prevent orcas from becoming extinct.

“I hope this new baby inspires everyone and motivates them to advocate for their survival, as the southern residents demonstrate time and again that when given the opportunity, they can thrive and flourish. Thus, it is our responsibility to afford them that opportunity,” they expressed.

Orca Network president speaks on salmon recovery

Co-founder and Board President of Orca Network Howard Garrett appeared on KIRO Newsradio in October to discuss what now seems to be a comparable decline of orca calf L128.

“Essentially, Chinook salmon, which have constituted their primary diet for ages, are now exceedingly scarce,” he explained. “Consequently, they are depending on other fish such as coho, chum salmon, and sometimes sablefish, as well as steelhead whenever available. However, these alternatives lack the caloric value that a nursing mother requires to nourish her baby while sustaining her own health. According to the prevailing theories, they have not been able to consume sufficient food, thus hampering normal growth for the calf.”

Further details: Decline of Chinook salmon maintains Southern Resident orcas on the endangered list

The primary factor contributing to the stagnant population growth is the scarcity of wild salmon, as per Garrett. He mentioned that although there has been significant effort in salmon restoration recently, the four lower Snake River dams obstruct valuable resources.

“That’s a 5,000 square mile wilderness area that serves as optimal Chinook spawning grounds and has done so for millennia, yet access is impeded by four dams on the Snake River, effectively preventing the smolts—small seven or eight-inch fish that have been developing for a year in the wilderness—from reaching the ocean,” he stated. “This situation limits the supply of approximately half of the historical fish resources available to the whales.”

The SeaDoc Society’s website offers suggestions for how individuals can contribute to the preservation of salmon in their daily lives, such as opting for safer cleaning agents, properly disposing of pet waste, washing cars at car washes instead of driveways, utilizing public transportation, and more.

And while Garrett proposed that eliminating salmon from one’s diet is a “great symbolic act,” it does not significantly impact the situation.

Other adverse factors affecting the reproductive processes and health of newborns, according to Garrett, include the bioaccumulation of organic chlorine pollutants, flame retardants, and PCBs (“a group of synthetic organic chemicals comprising carbon, hydrogen, and chlorine atoms,” according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency).

Julia Dallas is a content editor at MyNorthwest. You can read her stories here. Follow Julia on X here and email her here.