Newborn orca spotted with Northwest's endangered J Pod

Paige Browning

John Ryan

September 19, 2025 / 2:00 pm

The orca J pod has been very active in Central Puget Sound waters Friday, and they've got reason to be animated: There's a new baby calf.

The newborn orca has been born to the J pod, and is yet to be named by whale researchers.

The SeaDoc Society and San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance first spotted the baby Thursday in Saratoga Passage, near Whidbey and Camano islands.

The orca was reportedly seen again Friday by folks with the Center for Whale Research, who first noticed the mother was pregnant this month.

SeaDoc says it appears the mother is 18-year-old J-42, also known as "Echo."

Just one week ago, another mother in the J pod lost her baby, and was seen carrying the newbo

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