Killer whale that lost her newborn calf getting support from pod, says scientist

VICTORIA — A female killer whale that was seen pushing the body of its newborn calf after it died last week appears in good health and is getting help from members of her pod, says a whale scientist.

Ken Balcomb, the senior whale scientist at Center For Whale Research in Washington state, said despite concerns the mother’s state of grief could be affecting its health, the animal appears in good condition.

Researchers and whale watchers have spotted the orca, known as J35, holding the calf above the water since July 24 as other members of the southern resident pod hover nearby.

“She’s doing fine,” Balcomb said Wednesday. “She’s looking good. It will take almost a month before you see signs of emaciation in the mother. At present, there’s no indication she’s got a problem. She does have a son that is helping feed her, I think.”

He said it’s unclear if the whale is still pushing her calf because the pod hasn’t been seen since Monday night. Windy conditions prevented researchers including the Department of Fisheries and Oceans from getting out Wednesday to observe the female killer whale and its pod, said Balcomb.

The southern resident orcas that frequent West Coast waters don’t normally stay in one place for too long and the mother’s behaviour since the calf’s death last month is not usual, he said.

“Usually we just see them briefly and then they are gone,” said Balcomb. “It’s pretty unusual she’s in the area for a week and pushing the baby the entire time. Yes, that’s unusual.”

The calf’s death is another sad chapter in the ongoing struggle for survival facing the remaining 75 endangered southern resident whales, Balcomb said.