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New baby orca spotted near Sooke is the fifth addition since December

New baby orca spotted near Sooke is the fifth addition since December - image
Courtesy of Center for Whale Research

The baby boom in the Southern Resident Killer Whales population continues with yet another baby orca sighting.

An L-pod female, L91, was seen near Sooke Monday morning with a newborn calf.

Researchers with the Center for Whale Research happened to be in the area conducting measurements of the Southern Resident Killer Whales and spotted the calf.

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The new calf has been designated L122, and is the fifth new baby to be born into the pod since December, 2014.

The latest L-pod calf, L121, was spotted in March.

READ MORE: Orca baby boom one for the record books

The greatest number of calves born in a year since the records started 40 years ago was nine in 1977, and there were none born that survived in 2013 or 2014.

Researchers hope this year’s baby boom means a turn-around in what has been a negative population trend in recent years.

WATCH: After decades of decline, the Orca population off the Pacific Coast, known as Southern Resident Killer Whales, have something to celebrate.

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