Southern Resident Killer Whale J31 Seen Carrying Dead Calf Off Vancouver Island

J31, a Southern Resident killer whale, was observed off Sombrio Beach on Southern Vancouver Island carrying a dead calf. This sighting occurred last week in her native waters, where she is part of the J-Pod, a group that has experienced multiple calf losses in recent years.

Since 2016, J31 has been seen with dead calves after several pregnancies that ended tragically. The specific details regarding the most recent calf, including its sex and whether it was born alive, remain unclear. The decline of the Southern Resident killer whale population, now at only 75 individuals, is linked to a significant decrease in chinook salmon, exacerbated by fish farming and disease.

The Center for Whale Research noted that the cause of the calf's death is unknown but highlights ongoing reproductive challenges within this small population. J31, born in 1995, has only one surviving offspring, J56, born in 2019. The recovery of the Southern Resident killer whales hinges on improving conditions for mothers and calves to ensure their survival.