Whale watchers were excited to see a baby orca, which has been designated L-119, when three killer whale pods were spotted in the San Juan Islands.
credit:
Dave Ellifrit, Center for Whale Research
BREMERTON, Wash. — Killer whales have returned to Puget Sound waters with a new baby.
All three pods — J, K and L — were spotted this week in the San Juan Islands. Howard Garret of Orca network says it was the first time since October they had been seen together.
The whale watchers were excited to see the baby orca, which has been designated L-119 by the Center for Whale Research.
The Kitsap Sun reports it’s the second known offspring for the mother, L-77, a 25-year-old named Matia. Her first baby two years ago only survived a few months.
Counting the new calf, the population of the endangered southern resident orcas is 88 — 26 in J pod, 20 in K pod and 42 in L pod.
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