Southern resident killer whales spotted in Monterey Bay
Apr 2, 2019, 12:40 PM
The L Pod, part of the southern resident killer whale population, was spotted in California’s Monterey Bay on Sunday.
Monterey Bay Whale Watch, which reported seeing a three-month-old calf and several juveniles, says the last time the L Pod made a visit was in 2011.
Nancy Black, a marine biologist and owner of Monterey Bay Whale Watch, told KIRO Radio it’s rare to see the southern resident killer whales travel that far south in search of food. However, it’s not unheard of.
Black said it was nice to be able to report to the Center for Whale Research in Friday Harbor that the calf born in December appeared to be in good health.
“That was a relief, to know that I could report good news that the calf was still alive and it looked healthy,” Black said. “This is a tiny, little calf. It’s kind of hidden behind its mother when it surfaces. It was swimming right next to its mother.”
The southern resident killer whales that make their home in Puget Sound waters are made up of three pods — J, K, and L — totaling 75 whales as of Jan. 11, according to the Center for Whale Research. The L Pod consist of 35 whales.
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