Conservationists are thrilled: 6th new baby born to Puget Sound orca pods

Conservationists are thrilled: 6th new baby born to Puget Sound orca pods | iNFOnews.ca
Newborn orca calf J53 is seen with it's mother J17 off San Juan Island, Wash., on Saturday, Oct. 24, 2015. Credit: Heather MacIntyre/The Pacific Whale Watch Association via AP

SEATTLE – Puget Sound's endangered resident orcas have welcomed yet another new addition.

The Center for Whale Research in Friday Harbor confirmed on its Facebook page this weekend that a newborn orca designated as J53 was seen travelling Saturday in Haro Strait with a 38-year-old orca known as Princess Angeline.

Conservationists are thrilled. It's the sixth baby born to Puget Sound's three orca pods since last December, boosting their numbers to 82.

Michael Harris, the executive director of the Pacific Whale Watch Association, says the whale watch community is referring to the baby boom as the "class of 2015."

There could be more babies on the way. Federal biologists recently used drones to take thousands of images of the orcas, and they said several appeared to be pregnant.

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Howard Alexander

Assistant Editor Howard Alexander comes to iNFOnews.ca from the broadcasting side of the media business.

Howard has been a reporter, news anchor, talk show host and news director, first in Saskatchewan and then the Okanagan.

He moved his family to Vernon in the 90s and is proud to call the Okanagan home.

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