Thanks to a barrel roll spotted this weekend by Washington whale watchers, researchers can confirm the gender of J-pod’s newest calf.
The Center for Whale Research announced that the calf, J-58, is a girl, after the 6-month-old rolled onto her back, allowing scientists to determine the gender.
“CWR is pleased to confirm that J41′s calf, J58, is female. This approximately six-month-old calf was born in September 2020. Jeanne Hyde photographed J58 from shore yesterday; the calf was rolling, showing her underside, which revealed her gender,” a post on the website read.
J-58 was born last September to J-41 near British Columbia.
It was the second calf born that month. Another orca, Tahlequah, gave birth to a male calf.
Researchers say that new females in the southern resident orca community are critical to the population’s sustainability.
Cox Media Group
