According to recent reports from a whale watcher who took pictures of the orca, We have good news for southern resident orcas; a J-Pod member is pregnant!
The Southern Resident Killer Whales (SRKWs) represent the smallest of the four resident communities in the Northeastern portion of the North American Pacific Ocean.
It is the only Orca population listed on the Endangered Species List.
Brittany Philbin, who captured the amazing sight on camera, said southerners began swimming in the area on Friday.
“She was about 20-30 feet away from me,” Philbin said. “I rotated my camera to the right, took two quick pictures, and thought, ‘Oh, that picture is going to be blurry.”
She was amazed, so the pictures she took were incredible!
“It took an epic task to find the ID of this whale. There were many people involved. She was later confirmed pregnant by several other researchers,” Philbin said.
Ken Balcomb of the Center for Whale Research said he couldn’t officially confirm the orca was pregnant but based on recent photos and reliable observers; the orca looks “very pregnant.”
J46, also known as Star, turns 11 next month. This pregnancy will also mark her first child.
