‘Sign of hope’ for endangered killer whales as research centre confirms newborn calf [Video]

The Centre for Whale Research says one of its field biologists has spotted a new calf in a pod of endangered killer whales off British Columbia’s southern coast.

The Washington-based centre says in a Facebook post that biologist Mark Malleson encountered J-pod, part of the larger population of southern resident killer whales, as the orcas swam past Victoria Harbour on Sunday. 

The centre says he observed and documented a newborn calf swimming alongside a whale known as J40, and it’s thought to be her first calf.

The latest calf is the fourth born among the southern residents over the past year, with the centre saying it’s “a sign of hope for this endangered community.”

Based on the initial observations, it says …