Puget Sound's J pod has new baby orca

Puget Sound's own J pod has another orca baby in the family.

The newest addition, for now designated only by her scientific orca name, J-43, brings the number of whales in the pod to 26, and the total population of southern resident orcas to 88, the highest in nearly 10 years.

The southern residents of Puget Sound were listed as an endangered species by the National Marine Fisheries Service in December 2005, so all births are good news. Four calves have been born to the pods so far in 2007 — a five-year high.

The southern residents travel in three pods, J, K and L. Their population has fluctuated from a low of about 70 animals in 1976 and a peak of about 97 in 1996.

Births come after 16 months of gestation and, like humans, can come at any time of year. The first year of a calf's life is perilous, but orca advocates say they are hopeful the newest baby can make it through the winter, said Kelley Balcomb-Bartok of the Center for Whale Research in Friday Harbor, which announced the birth Thursday.

The first moments of an orca calf's life are uncertain as well. Births are attended by a crowd of pod members. A calf is born swimming, but not breathing. Its mother or another relative will lift it to the surface for its first gasps, Balcomb-Bartok said.

The first report of the newest calf was on Nov. 6, when a Whidbey Island resident spotted the pod off the west shore and sent photos to the Orca Network, an advocacy group.