A northern resident killer whale once saved from death off the waters of Seattle has had its second calf in four years.
Springer or A-73, who once made international headlines 15 years ago as a small orca rescued from the Puget Sound and then reintegrated later in her natural habitat, has been spotted with a new youngster.
“It is fantastic in terms of the population and having new members but on an individual level for her it’s really tremendous because it suggests she has integrated quite successfully back into the killer whale society,” says local Marine Biologist, Dr. Anna Hall.
The calf was first spotted by CetaceaLab on BC's north central coast on June 5th and confirmed by a Department of Fisheries and Ocean Canada.
Springer's first calf, Spirit, was born in 2013.