Southern resident orcas welcome new calf

State of play: Researchers photographed J64 on Sept. 23 in the Georgia Strait, according to the Center for Whale Research.

• The calf surfaced in patterns indicative of nursing and traveled closely with its mother.
• Young females and J64's grandmother were nearby, signaling strong pod support, per the center.

Catch up quick: The birth comes weeks after another orca, J36, was seen carrying a dead newborn, and follows the loss of J35's second calf earlier this year.

• J35, also known as Talequah, previously drew global attention in 2018 when she carried her dead calf for 17 days across a thousand miles of sea.

What we're watching: The newborn J64 appears healthy now, but scientists caution survival is uncertain, especially in the calf's first year.