Marine biologists confirmed that 7 calves were born within a period of 12 months.
Marine biologists working of BC coast had a wonderful supply during their routine check-up of the designated L endangered species enclosure. Apparently an orca, designated as L 103 gave birth to a bouncing baby whale. The orca newborn spotted off BC coast sparks hope among the members of the scientific community.
The bouncy and wriggling baby whale was first caught on film in early November. At the time, the weather conditions were not favorable, so the researchers had to wait a while until they could safely confirm that the whale has actually given birth or not. But it seems the rumors were confirmed, and the scientific community officially welcomed L 103 into our world.
But there are more pieces of good news. It would seem that L 103 is the 7th whale calf born in the enclosures around BC waters. Whether the baby whale was born in the L or the K enclosures is a fact yet to be discovered. Moreover, the L 103 is indeed the 7th calf born in the enclosures around BC, but there is more to it than that. He comes from a line of birth that span over a period of 12 months.
This aspect fills the marine biologists with the hope that, one day, they will be able to replenish the orca whale population. More news is coming our way regarding the population of killer whales. Apart from closely monitoring their enclosures, the scientists are working on a project to increase the population of Chinook salmon, a primary feeding source for both whales and their calves.
According to the marine biologists that have undertaken this project, all calves born in the 12-month period have survived their first weeks of like and are in a perfect state of health.
A killer whale, commonly known as the orca, is a toothed sea mammal which belongs to the dolphin family. According to certain taxonomies, it would seem that the orca is the largest member of this extended family. Their dietary requirements are quite diverse, but most of them consume fish, although marine biologists have spotted a couple of specimens that fancied hunting other marine mammals.
Further observations of this sea critters have revealed that the killer whale is a social animal. Moreover, it would seem that all traits are inherited from the female side of the family. The orca takes great pride in hunting. Often they are seen hunting in groups and they even communicate with each other using a highly expressive vocalization method.
Image source:www.wikimedia.org
