New baby orca born to southern resident killer whale community

The Center for Whale Research in Washington state said Wednesdayit was "thrilled" to confirm a new baby orca born to L pod, one of three family groups that make up the West Coast's endangered southern resident killer whale population.

The research centre'sidentification expert, Dave Ellifrit,captured imagesof the babyorca that showfetal folds, indicating a recent birth.

The baby orcaidentified as L125 appearshealthy, according to the research centre.

A team was dispatched on two boatsto Haro Strait,located between Vancouver Island and Washington's San Juan Islands, whenresearchers learned the endangered killerwhales were in the area.

The whales have been the focus of recovery efforts and research off the West Coast for years.

Ellifrit said the new member ofL pod appears to be healthy.

"It is nicely filled out and appears to be a perfectly normal little calf," he said.

This isthe fourth calf born to L86, however, two have died.

In J pod, one of the other family groups of southern resident killer whales, two calves have been born in the past year, which researchers say are doing well.