Orca calf presumed dead

VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – The newest member of BC’s endangered southern-resident killer whale population is missing and presumed dead.

Washington state-based Center for Whale Research says the orca calf, named J55, was first spotted January 18th in Puget Sound.

The newborn was not spotted again during subsequent sightings of the pod on January 19th and February 25th.

Scientists say the loss of any calf is a blow to the struggling population, but it’s not entirely surprising since up to 50 per cent of newborn orcas don’t survive their first year.