More Baby Orcas Could Be On The Way

Puget Sound's endangered resident orcas have welcomed yet another new addition.

The Center for Whale Research in Friday Harbor confirmed news of the baby whale on its Facebook page over the weekend. They have designated it as J-53.

It was seen traveling on Saturday in Haro Strait with a 38-year-old orca known as Princess Angeline.

Conservationists are thrilled. It's the sixth baby born to Puget Sound's three orca pods since last December, boosting their numbers to 82.

Michael Harris, the executive director of the Pacific Whale Watch Association, says the whale watch community is referring to the baby boom as the "class of 2015."

And there could be more babies on the way.

Federal biologists recently used drones to take thousands of images of the orcas, and they said several appeared to be pregnant.