Newborn Female Orca Brings Hope to Endangered J-Pod

The Center for Whale Research (CWR) has confirmed that a new southern resident killer whale calf, J62, is female—a development that offers a rare piece of good news for the struggling population.

The Washington-based organization announced that researchers observed the young orca on Feb. 8 off San Juan Island, where they were able to photograph her belly and confirm her sex.

Why Female Orcas Are Critical to Survival

Southern resident killer whales, an endangered population living off B.C.'s southwest coast, rely on reproductively aged females to sustain their numbers.

The Center for Whale Research has long emphasized that the survival of female calves is key to the future of the species.

J62 appears to be healthy and “filling out nicely,” according to the research group.

Bittersweet News Following Recent Calf Death

The confirmation comes just weeks after the tragic loss of another calf, whose mother—J35, also known as Tahlequah—carried its body for several days in what experts believe was a display of grief.

J35 made international headlines in 2018, when she carried her stillborn calf for 17 days, a heartbreaking event that brought global attention to the plight of the southern resident orcas.

Endangered Population Still Struggling

Southern resident killer whales face multiple threats, including:

• Declining Chinook salmon stocks, their primary food source.

• Pollution and underwater noise, which disrupt their ability to hunt and communicate.

• Loss of habitat and human activity, increasing stress on the population.

The birth of J62 offers a glimmer of hope, but conservationists say much more work is needed to protect these endangered whales and ensure a future for the species.