SEATTLE — Biologists following endangered orcas on a research vessel have spotted a new baby orca off the Washington coast.
A spokesman for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration says the calf was seen with other whales in the “L” pod, one of three families of southern resident killer whales frequent the inland waters of Washington state.
NOAA biologist Brad Hanson says in an email that the calf’s mother appears to be L-94. The “very energetic” baby orca was observed about 15 miles west of Westport, Washington, earlier this week.
Researchers recently tagged two orcas and have been tracking where they go and what they eat during the winter.
This is the third baby born to the whale pods in recent months, bringing the Puget Sound’s endangered population to 80, still dangerously low.
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