Newborn orca J50 is a girl, researchers confirm

[inanna]

Source: CBC

Whale researchers have confirmed that a newborn orca spotted last week near Vancouver Island is a girl, raising hopes for the endangered southern resident population.

The calf, which has been named J50, was first spotted on Dec. 30.

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"They took photographs and confirmed that the baby was still there. And the baby actually rolled over and showed them the underside, and we confirmed it is a female, so that's wonderful news."

The birth of a female is exciting news, because the population of southern resident killer whales is at historic lows. J50 brings the population to just 78.



Read more: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/newborn-orca-j50-is-a-girl-researchers-confirm-1.2893739?cmp=rss

[Omaha Steve]

1. Also see this post from last week

AP: Newborn killer whale a good sign for imperiled pod: http://www.democraticunderground.com/10026030192

K&R!

OS

[niyad]

2. k and r