It seems like the orca baby boom on the West Coast is not going to stop after years of population decline. The Centre for Whale Research, on Wednesday, gave confirmation to the birth of the 8th calf this year in the endangered southern residents. The birth has pushed the population to 84.

In a statement, Michael Harris, the director of the Pacific Whale Watch Association, said 1977 was the only year in the last 4 decades, wherein as many baby killer whales took birth into this community of whales. Harris said that 9 births have taken place in 2015.

The calf seen first on December 1, besides San Juan Island in Washington State, however, researchers were able to capture a photo in Haro Strait on Wednesday. They confirmed that it was not among the other calves born in 2015.

The calf has been named J54, but its sex has not been determined so far. The mother a 22-year-old female, J28, which was also the mother of a female that took birth in 2009, dubbed J46, which is still alive.

According to Harris, the latest birth has actually placed the population back within its usual birth rate.

Harris mentioned, “From calculations accounting for all reproductive age females, we estimate that typically up to nine babies could be produced each year, but there is usually a high rate of neonatal and perinatal mortality, and we have seen only three babies annually on average”.