New Calf Born to Descendant of Last Orca Captured in Salish Sea
New calf T046B3A surfaces beside mother, T046B3 "Sedna". Tom Filipovic, Eagle Wing Tours (PWWA)
New Calf Born to Descendant of Last Orca Captured in Salish Sea
Baby Boom Continues for Local Bigg’s Killer Whales
SEATTLE, WA & VICTORIA, BC - March 25, 2025 - The Pacific Whale Watch Association (PWWA) announced that a new Bigg’s, or mammal-hunting, orca calf has been spotted in the Salish Sea. The calf was first seen as part of a group of more than a dozen orcas, also known as killer whales, on Thursday, March 20 in eastern Juan de Fuca Strait. It was subsequently resighted several times over the weekend.
“In the images, you can still see fetal folds, along with distinctive orange coloration,” shares Erin Gless, the PWWA’s executive director, referring to creases in the calf’s skin as a result of being scrunched inside its mother’s belly. “These factors are normal and indicate the calf is quite young, likely a week or two at most.”
In all sightings, the calf was swimming directly alongside mother, T046B3 “Sedna”, and has been given the designation T046B3A. It is 14-year-old Sedna’s first known calf. In Inuit culture, Sedna is the Mother of the Sea.
Sedna is part of a well-known family of orcas, a family whose story was nearly cut short almost 50 years ago. In 1976, Sedna’s grandmother, T046 “Wake”, was one of six whales captured and temporarily held by SeaWorld in Budd Inlet, Washington. Ralph Munro, assistant to then Governor Dan Evans at the time, witnessed the captures while sailing with friends and was appalled. Munro helped file a lawsuit against SeaWorld, leading to the whales’ release. They were the last killer whales to be captured in US waters.
Wake is responsible for eight assumed calves, 16 grand-calves, and six great grand-calves. Without the direct efforts of Ralph Munro, at least 30 Bigg’s killer whales would have never been born. Munro went on to serve five terms as Washington’s Secretary of State. His passing at the age of 81 was announced last Thursday, the same day the new orca calf was spotted. Today, Bigg’s killer whales are thriving in Salish Sea waters.
Bigg’s orcas feed on marine mammals such as seals, sea lions, and porpoises. An abundance of food has allowed their population to grow steadily, with more than 140 calves welcomed in the last decade. According to Bay Cetology, a research organization that monitors the Bigg’s orca population, there are nearly 400 individuals in the coastal Bigg’s orca population today, a stark contrast to the endangered Southern Resident orcas who feed on salmon, primarily Chinook salmon, and number approximately 73 individuals. Local whale watch tours focus on thriving Bigg’s killer whales and not endangered Southern Residents.
Visible fetal folds indicate the calf was born very recently. Tom Filipovic, Eagle Wing Tours (PWWA)
T046B3 “Sedna” with new calf, T46B3A. Sam Murphy, Island Adventures (PWWA)
Mom and baby travel side-by-side. Caio Ribeiro, Eagle Wing Tours (PWWA)
Mom and baby were part of a large group of more than a dozen Bigg’s orcas spotted last week. Sara Shimazu, Maya’s Legacy
