New Southern Resident orca calf spotted in L pod
Feb 18, 2026, 4:41 PM
(Photo courtesy of KIRO 7 via the Center for Whale Research)
(Photo courtesy of KIRO 7 via the Center for Whale Research)
There’s a new addition in the Salish Sea.
The Center for Whale Research spotted a new Southern Resident orca calf traveling with L pod on Feb. 16 in the Strait of Juan de Fuca.
“The calf does appear to be very young, probably a few days old at most,” Dr. Michael Weiss, research director at the Center for Whale Research, told KIRO Newsradio.
Designated L129, the calf was seen with two females, the 49‑year‑old L55 and her daughter L103. Researchers said it is too early to know which whale is the mother.
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Researchers caution that survival for Southern Resident calves is far from guaranteed.
“We think probably about half of them that are ever born make it through that first year,” Weiss said. “Unfortunately, that means it’s kind of a coin flip whether or not this calf will make it.”
The latest official count showed 74 Southern Resident Killer Whales, which are listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act.
The Center for Whale Research said it hopes to encounter L129 again soon and plans to release additional images and a full encounter report in the coming days.
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