SALISH SEA, WA (MyBellinghamNow.com) – Whale enthusiasts are cautiously optimistic about a new addition to the Southern Resident Orca population.

The Center for Whale Research says that their team members observed a new calf travelling with the J Pod on Monday, Oct. 19.

Researchers say that the calf, named J65, is a male and is roughly a week old.

They believe the calf is the sixth descendent of J35, as he was seen travelling with her during their two most recent observations.

My Bellingham Now previously reported on the Center for Whale Research’s most recent census count, during which the total Southern Resident Orca population increased by 2.

Orca calf mortality rates remain high among the endangered SRO population, but researchers didn’t observe any immediate issues with the new whale.