Originally published May 3, 2007 at 12:00 AM | Page modified May 3, 2007 at 5:46 PM

New orca calf in Puget Sound

It's official: Puget Sound's endangered orcas have a new baby to show off. The calf, less than four days old, was spotted yesterday on the...

By Lynda V. Mapes

Seattle Times staff reporter

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DAVE ELLIFRIT / CENTER FOR WHALE RESEARCH

Newborn calf J42 surfaces along its mother, J16 (born ~1972) along the west side of San Juan Island on May 2, 2007. The newborn calf is estimated to be less than 4 days old in this photo.

It's official: Puget Sound's endangered orcas have a new baby to show off.

The calf, less than four days old, was spotted yesterday on the west side of San Juan Island, by volunteers for the Center For Whale Research (http://www.whaleresearch.com/).

The calf was seen traveling north with its mother and three siblings, and looked spry and healthy.

"We had been getting reports from the whale watch boats, so we went to check it out," said David Ellifrit, who snapped a picture of the baby. "It's just a tiny little thing, but it was keeping up with its mother," said Ellifrit, who was close enough to the baby to hear it breathe. "It makes little puffs," he said.

The birth brings the population of Southern Resident whales to 87. The newest member is a member of J pod, one of three clans of Southern Resident orcas that calls Puget Sound home.

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