Orca calf born to endangered B.C. population is missing, presumed dead

Feb 27, 2016 | 9:17 AM

VANCOUVER — Scientists say the newest member of an endangered population of killer whales that travel the waters off British Columbia and Washington state appears to have died.

The U.S.-based Center for Whale Research says the orca calf, named J55, is missing and presumed dead.

J55 was first documented swimming with a pod of southern-resident killer whales on Jan. 18 in Puget Sound, along the northwest coast of Washington state.

The calf was not seen again during a sighting of the pod in the Strait of Juan de Fuca on Jan. 19 and another sighting on Feb. 25.