A southern resident killer whale known as J31, who has experienced reproductive losses in the past, was recently observed with a deceased calf off the coast of British Columbia. The Center for Whale Research located in Friday Harbor, Washington, reported the sighting of J31 near Sombrio Point on Vancouver Island. The gender of the calf and whether it reached full-term or was stillborn are unknown.
This is not the first time J31 has faced such a tragic loss, as previous incidents include failed pregnancies and carrying a dead calf in 2016. The discovery of another dead calf is significant, highlighting the ongoing challenge of successful reproduction among the endangered southern resident killer whale population.
The southern resident killer whales are critically endangered, with a population of around 73 in 2024. Their ability to recover largely depends on the availability of chinook salmon. Despite the unknown cause of the calf’s death, the continuous reproductive difficulties within the population are concerning. Each calf’s birth and survival are crucial for a population as small as the southern residents.
J31, born in 1995, has one surviving offspring named J56, born in 2019. The importance of each new calf’s survival cannot be overstated for the future of this fragile population.
