Right now, scientists say it appears the dead orca found washed up on the west side of Vancouver Island is not one of the eight new Southern Resident calves.
A scientist with the Center for Whale Research examined the eye patch of the dead whale to compare it with the eight Southern Resident babies and he did not find a match.
Paul Cottrell with Fisheries and Oceans Canada said his agency won’t know for sure until DNA results are complete, which could take up to six months.
Cottrell said there were reports another type of killer whale known as a transient or Biggs orca was seen in the same area around the time the dead orca washed up.
The young female orca, likely between 2 and 3 months old, washed up on Mussel Beach near Tofino a week ago.
A necropsy was completed on Christmas Day.
It created some concern among local whale watchers.
“Our hearts sink and we say, wow we hope it's not one of the class of 2015, as we call them,” Michael Harris, executive director of the Pacific Whale Watch Association, said.
Over the last year, Southern Resident pods have been experiencing a baby boom, with eight babies born since last December.
There haven’t been this many baby whales born in Pacific Northwest waters since 1977.
The latest news is a reality check.
“It’s the nature of the beast, literally,” Harris explained. “Babies born into these populations have a 50 percent mortality rate.”
While it's been a great year, these endangered orcas are still not out of the woods yet.
“The odds are that some of these babies may not make it, and we have got to be ready for that, we have got to be ready for that,” Harris added.
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