New calf for orca pod sometimes seen on West Coast

new calf has been born to an orca pod that frequents the West Coast of Vancouver Island and has even been known to come into the Tofino harbour.

The new calf named L111 is part of the L-pod a family of killer whales known as the southern residents.

The birth was noted August 12 by the Friday Harbour Washington-based Center for Whale Research off the coast of the U.S. San Juan Islands.

Once news of the birth was posted on the center's website, it created quite a buzz among marine researchers and orca enthusiasts.

Researchers said L111's mother was seen the evening before without a calf, and then the following day with the calf still exhibiting fetal folds leading them to believe she was less than 24 hours old when spotted.

According to the Center, this is the sixth calf born to L111's mother L47. She is a 34 year old grandmother whose last calf did not survive.

The L pod was the same pod Luna the whale was born into. Luna, or L98, was separated from the pod and made his home near Gold River in Nootka Sound, just north of Clayoquot Sound in 2001.

Luna began to be interested in boats and then floatplanes and was often seen around Gold River's dock area.

After five years on his own and failed attempts to capture him and reunite him with L-pod, Luna was killed after coming into contact with the propeller of a tugboat.

The Center estimates there are currently 43 killer whales in the L-pod although two are listed as missing.

Because of the high mortality rate of calves, if L111 returns to the San Juan Islands next summer the Center says it will officially count her in L-pod's population.