Big Mama Humpback Returns Salish Sea With Eighth Calf

The first humpback whale calf of the 2025 season has been spotted in the Salish Sea alongside its mother, Big Mama (BCY0324), a whale known for her pivotal role in the species' recovery in the region. The calf, estimated to be four to five months old, was seen in the Haro Strait near the Canada-U.S. border, staying close to Big Mama during multiple sightings. Big Mama, part of the Hawaiian humpback population, has had at least eight calves over the past three decades and now has seven grandcalves and four great-grandcalves, highlighting her significant legacy. Humpback whales give birth in warmer winter waters off Hawaii, Mexico, and Central America, then undertake a long, hazardous migration north to the Salish Sea to feed on small fish and krill, avoiding threats from fishing gear, ship traffic, and killer whales. Big Mama was one of the first humpbacks to return to the Salish Sea following the end of commercial whaling in 1966 and continues to be a symbol of the species' comeback, with many more whales expected to arrive in the region over the summer. The Pacific Whale Watch Association, which tracks over 500 individual humpbacks in the Salish Sea, emphasized the importance of Big Mama as an example of how a single whale can impact population recovery.