On Friday, Dec. 20, reports of a new orca baby had been spotted with J-pod. Over that weekend, the weather turned stormy, and the dark waters in Puget Sound were rough. On Monday, Dec. 23, it was confirmed by the Center for Whale Research that, indeed, J-35 was swimming with a new baby calf and other J-pod orcas near north Alki Point in Puget Sound. All marine researchers limit the time they spend with new Orca mothers and their calves, making short observations and taking pictures for their official identification. Mom J-35 was seen pushing the live baby with her nose, and there was concern as the baby looked like it was struggling. This encounter provided the scientists with the right view to identify the gender as female. This new orca calf was assigned her official number J-61.

Jan. 1, an encounter with J-pod orcas took a tragic turn when it was discovered J-35’s calf J-61 had died and her mother was pushing her dead baby. Other Southern Resident killer whales like K-27 have exhibited this behavior as well, however, none as long as J-35 in 2018, when she carried her dead baby on her nostrum for 17 days. J-35 made international news as the media showed photos and footage of her. The world witnessed her grieving/mourning for her baby in a way people have never seen before. It brought much-needed attention to our iconic Southern Resident killer whales.

Currently, there are only 73 SRWK left. The birth survival rate for newborn orcas was 70-80%; currently, it is 50%. That is a call to action. They need more food; their main diet is Chinook/King salmon. When our SRKW lack food, they digest their blubber/fat, where toxins are stored. Digesting those toxins makes whales unhealthy. Add in all the negative interactions with humans, and the result is stressed whales.

The Bold Action Guide has issued two calls to action. The first encourages the Washington state Department of Natural Resources to permanently adapt the 2022 executive order prohibiting finfish net pen aquaculture on state-owned aquaculture lands. Public comments are due Jan. 6, and the vote is scheduled for Jan. 7. For more information visit https://www.canva.com/design/DAGZw23Iges/KPrlRqmSZl-8QNR0nBFFRA/edit?fbclid=IwY2xjawHlV89leHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHavhChyCA840a2qMBcBnWjaC9pxfxWMyYFuIw-iskV6L_rdiOcvwy7qsWQ_aem_CElWRKvdNf-fVGTW29wWcA.

A group of activists are planning on attending the Governor’s Inauguration to demonstrate how deeply in trouble the Southern Resident orcas are. For those wishing to attend, head to the Washington Capitol Steps by the Trivoli Fountain on Jan. 15 at 11 a.m. and look for the orca school bus.

Researchers had more news to share about J-pod. After the J-35 encounter on Jan. 1, the Center for Whale Research headed to Vashon Island, where they received a report of another new baby orca with different members of J-pod. It was confirmed that another baby orca in J-pod was born and registered as J-62 and appeared to be swimming and breathing normally. Currently, the J-17 and J-19 subgroups are with the new baby orca, and the mother has not been identified. That is not unusual, as many orcas are swimming with the newborn. This is a continuing story with more updates to follow.