Newborn orca calf spotted near Tofino

Anew transientorca calf wassighted in the waters off Tofino, B.C. earlier this week.

John Forde of the Tofino Whale Centre and Strawberry Isle Marine Research Centre says the calf appears to have been born this week inside Clayoquot Sound.

He says a group of transient orcas were seen entering the area Tuesday and on Wednesday, one of the females was seen swimming with a newborn calf.

Forde says the young orca looks to be very healthy.

"The fairly large calf was swimming a fair distance from its mother and swimming strongly," he said. "We had a hydrophone and got some recordings of some varied vocalizations ... everything was good."

Four new calveshave beenborn to endangered southern resident orca podsso far this year.

While transient orca populations have been more stable, Forde says this new calf is also very good news, as it'sthe first time a transient calf has been born in the area since 2013.