Historic orca calf born in the PNW, brings hope for killer whale population

A new orca calf has been born in the Pacific Northwest, and this baby boasts an impressive family tree.

The orca calf belongs to a family of transient killer whales, or “Bigg’s” killer whales, and was first spotted in the Salish Sea on Thursday, March 20, between Port Townsend and the San Juan Islands.

Erin Gless of the Pacific Whale Watch Association highlighted the historical significance of its lineage.

“She is part of a line of killer whales that were the very last ones to be captured in Washington state,” Gless said. “Back in 1976, there was a group of six killer whales who were rounded up down in Puget Sound, and the goal was to ship them off to SeaWorld.”

The capture at Budd Inlet sparked outrage among witnesses, including the late Secretary of State Ralph Munro, who was sailing in the area at the time. Protests followed, and Munro even filed a lawsuit.

According to Gless, “all of that pressure led SeaWorld to release the whales.”

Of those freed, one whale—known as T-46 or Wake— became the matriarch of a sprawling family.

“This new little baby is now her great-grandcalf, and none of that would be possible if those whales were not released nearly 50 years ago,” said Gless.

Killer whales are endangered

These roundups have affected whale populations for decades. Tokitae, or Lolita, was an orca who was captured in a separate roundup in 1970. Tokitae remained in captivity at the Miami Seaquarium until her death two years ago. She belonged to the endangered Southern Resident killer whale population, a type of orca that only eats salmon.  As salmon stocks decline, only about 73 Southern Resident whales remain today.

That being said, there are roughly 400 “Bigg’s” killer whales alive today. According to Gless, the name originated from Dr. Michael Bigg, who first distinguished them from Southern Residents.

Protected food sources

In 2023, Washington signed a bill designed to keep recreational boaters away from Southern Resident killer whales, requiring them to stay between 300 to 1,000 yards in distance. This law does not apply to the “Bigg’s” population however, as boats are only required to stay 200 yards away from them.

Unlike Southern Residents, “Bigg’s” killer whales eat seals, sea lions, and other marine animals. “Seals and sea lions have been protected for decades, and so their populations have rebounded. That has lured those transient, quote-unquote, killer whales back into the area,” Gless explained.  “And now they’re here almost every day.”

While Southern Resident killer whales must travel farther in search of food, “Bigg’s” now have greater access to food sources, urging them to stay closer to home, here in the Pacific Northwest.