Whale researchers have concluded that orca calf J64 from the J Pod is likely deceased following a recent observation in the Southern Gulf Islands of British Columbia. The Center for Whale Research announced the findings after a series of encounters where J64 was notably absent, raising concerns about the calf’s survival.
During an expedition near Village Bay on Mayne Island, researchers observed J Pod members on May 10, 2023. They identified J42, the mother of J64, but could not find the calf, which had been previously reported traveling closely with her. According to the Center for Whale Research, orcas are considered deceased after three consecutive encounters without the animal present in the pod.
The researchers noted, “We began taking our ID shots and worked to get photos of all whales present. J16, J26, and J42 were peripheral to the rest of the pod, being just a couple of dozen yards to the northwest of the others.” Despite waiting for J64 to surface behind its mother, the calf did not appear during the monitoring session.
While the researchers initially held some hope that J64 was simply elusive, their optimism diminished as they continued to observe J42 surfacing alone. “We hoped it was nursing or something, but we kept seeing J42 surface repeatedly, and there was no calf with her,” they reported. Ultimately, the team concluded that J64 did not survive.
This calf was originally documented by the Orca Network and SeaDoc Society on September 18, 2023, when it was frequently seen alongside J42, exhibiting nursing behavior. Biologists emphasize that mortality rates for young orcas, especially those born to first-time mothers, are alarmingly high within the Southern Resident population. Factors contributing to these fatalities include inadequate nutrition and harmful toxins transferred from mother to calf during gestation and lactation.
Orcas depend on healthy populations of Chinook salmon for their survival. The Center for Whale Research dispatched a team to observe J Pod after receiving reports of their movement northward at the south end of Swanson Channel. Despite the disappointment of not locating J64, the researchers continued their monitoring efforts as the pod moved towards Active Pass.
The situation surrounding J64 highlights the ongoing challenges faced by the Southern Resident orca population. As their numbers dwindle, conservation groups advocate for enhanced measures to protect these iconic marine mammals and their habitat. The loss of another calf underscores the urgency of addressing factors impacting their survival and the overall health of their ecosystem.
The Center for Whale Research and other organizations continue to monitor the situation, hoping for better outcomes for the remaining members of J Pod in the future.
