FRIDAY HARBOR, Washington (20 Nov 2002) -- Three new baby orcas have been confirmed this year in Puget Sound — and it's hard to say who's happier, the whales or the humans who keep tabs on them. Ken Balcomb of the Center for Whale Research studied videos and still photos of the newborns Tuesday with help from his associate Dave Ellifrit. They gave the two latest orca infants their official designations: L-102 for the calf born to L-47, and K-35 for the calf born to K-16. Those two baby whales are in addition to L-101, born to L-67 several weeks ago. L-67 also is the mother of L-98, a 3-year-old orca left alone in an isolated bay off the west coast of Vancouver Island. "It is nice to have a couple of new L's, because that is where we were seeing our losses," Balcomb said. The baby whales will be given names if they survive a year. Tom McMillan, owner of Salish Sea Charters, which provided Balcomb with the latest photos and videos, said when he observed L-102 last weekend, a bunch of females in L-pod were crowded around the calf, as humans might do around a newborn. McMillan, as well as the passengers on his boat, were enthralled with the baby orca, he said. "It is so interesting to watch the interactions," he said. "You want to stay with the whales. Most people don't want to go in." | | When researchers identify a newborn orca with its mother, the new whale is given the letter of its pod along with the next available number. The three pods of Puget Sound killer whales — J, K and L — have been in decline since 1993. Due to high concentrations of toxic chemicals found in their blubber, researchers speculate that the whales may be suffering for reproductive and immune problems. The three babies born this year, with no deaths so far, is evidence of a possible reversal of the declining trend. The total now stands at 84, down from a peak of 98 a few years ago but up from a low of 79. Balcomb said people should be cautioned that the little whales will soon face what may be the toughest time of their lives, their first winter. And all may not survive. The three pods leave Puget Sound and head out to the Pacific Ocean in winter, but in recent years L-pod has stayed until after the first of the year. On Tuesday, about 12 orcas were reported by observers near Vashon Island in South Puget Sound. SOURCE - Bremerton SunSCUBA FORUMDISCUSS THIS TOPIC - Dive in and have your say at Scuba Forum |
