http://www.timescolonist.com/technology/Whale%20baby%20boom%20Island/2218126/story.htmlA brand-new killer-whale calf has made its first public appearance off the Victoria waterfront.
The birth is the fifth this year for the three endangered resident killer-whale pods and brings the total number of animals in the pods to 87.
The calf was first spotted on Remembrance Day.
"It's a baby boom," said Howard Garrett of Orca Network, a group that runs a whale-sighting network.
With gestation taking 17 months from the spring and summer mating season, calves are often born in the fall and winter, he said.
There were seven deaths last year in the summer-resident pods, sparking concerns about their survival, especially since some of the whales showed signs of malnutrition before they disappeared.
The lowest documented number of summer residents was 71 in 1973 and 1976, following years of shootings and captures. Thirty years later, in 1996, the animals were back up to a high of 97. Historically, the three pods had about 120 members.
Coincidentally, the two whale researchers who tracked and photographed the new calf, Ken Balcomb -- executive director of the Center for Whale Research in Friday Harbor, Wash. -- and Mark Malleson of Victoria, were both celebrating their birthdays Nov. 11.
There couldn't be a better birthday present, they agreed.
"This is wonderful.
I hope they are finding plenty of food this year. It's the key to their survival," Balcomb said.
"It was quite exciting," said Malleson, a contract marine mammal observer for the Department of Fisheries and Oceans and the Center for Whale Research.
Malleson, also a skipper-naturalist for Prince of Whales whale watching, took photos of the new calf, which has characteristic newborn pink markings and folds behind the dorsal fin.
The calf was with its mother, 16-year-old J28, known as Polaris.
Although Polaris is a young mom, Balcomb is hoping the grandmother, who also had a calf in January, will give a helping hand. "Her mom is pretty experienced and they are travelling together. I think the calf will have a pretty good chance," he said.
About 50 per cent of killer whale calves die in the first year.
This calf will have a better chance of survival if its mother has already had a stillborn calf, to clean toxins such as PCBs and fire retardants from her system, Balcomb said.
Malleson hopes winter survival rates will be good, noting this year has been much better for salmon than last. "I just hope they are well-fed from the summer and don't have to dig too far into their fat reserves. We'll do a rollcall when they all come back at the beginning of next season."
Some of the summer residents stick around for the winter, while others disperse.
In addition to shrinking salmon supplies, the whales battle noise and pollution in their home waters. Environmental groups are pursuing a court case against DFO claiming the federal government is not providing sufficient protection for critical habitat.
"It's excellent that there's a new baby. That's why there's still hope here and why it's such an exciting case to be working on," said lawyer Margot Venton, who is representing the groups.
"Critical habitat is the foundation for recovery of the species. ... If they screw up with protection of critical habitat, they are blowing apart something essential to the whales' survival."
The case is likely to go to court in the spring.
jlavoie@tc.canwest.com
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