By Mandi Johnson

Sounder reporter

NOAA Northwest Fisheries Science Center reported discovering a new orca calf on Jan. 19.

The calf was spotted by NOAA researchers during a survey with the J pod on Jan. 18. Scientists are unable to identify who the calf’s mother is at this time, as it has been seen swimming around two potential whales, J14 and J37.

Photos taken by the researchers were analyzed by the Center for Whale Research which confirmed this is a new calf they’ve designated as J55.

The calf appeared to be only a few days old, and healthy. J55 is the sixth new calf since December 2014 for the J pod.  Unfortunately, during the same trip researchers observed J31 (Tsuchi) pushing around a deceased calf.

The 20 year-old female has never successfully birthed a calf.

According to NOAA, the deceased calf is one of at least 50 percent of calves who never make it to their first birthday. J55 brings the Puget Sound’s orca population to 85, between the three pods.