J Pod

Statistics

Mother: J-7 Sucia

Sex: Female

Year of Birth: 1972

Age: 51

Living Calves: J26 Mike, J36 Alki, J42 Echo

About Slick

Slick is the matriarch of a pod containing her children, known as the J16s. She’s believed to have been born in 1972. Her son is J26 Mike, and her daughters are J36 Alki, J42 Echo, and J50 Scarlet. Scarlet died in 2018. Her grandson, J52 Sonic, Alki’s son, died in 2017.

For the first ~12 years of her life, researchers actually thought Slick was male! Her mother was J-7 Sucia, and she had an older brother, J-3 Merlin, but both of these whales died many years ago. 

Slick is an interesting case in inbreeding. Ordinarily, mothers and sons do not mate, for obvious and cultural reasons. However, Slick mated with her own son, Mike, and gave birth to their daughter, J42. It's unknown why this happened, and why Slick and Mike deviated from normal whale mating behavior. 

Statistics

Mother: J-4 Mama

Sex: Female

Year of Birth: 1979

Age: 44

Living Calves: J41 Eclipse

About Shachi

Shachi is a female in J pod. She is estimated to be born in 1979 to J-4 Mama, who has been dead for many years. Shachi's sister was J11 Blossom, whose offspring still swim with J Pod. 

Her daughter is J41 Eclipse, her grandson is J51 Nova, and her grand-daughter is J58 Crescent. Shachi has what are called small finger saddle patches, and a noticably curved, unnotched dorsal fin. 

In September of 2021, Shachi was photographed in the late stages of pregnancy, and later, in the winter of 2022, Shachi's body condition had changed, and it appears that she lost the calf. 69% of Southern Resident pregnancies end in miscarriage, which is heartbreaking. 

J19 has several notches along the edge of her tail fluke. Shachi means 'whale' or 'killer whale' in Japanese.

Statistics

Mother: J-10 Tahoma

Father: J-1 Ruffles

Sex: Female

Year of Birth: 1985

Age: 38

Living Calves: J38 Cookie

About Oreo

Oreo is a female in J Pod, who was born in 1985. Her mother was J-10 Tahoma and her father was J1 Ruffles, who have both since passed.  

She has a living son, J38 Cookie, and her son J34 Doublestuf died in 2016. His body washed up onshore, and his cause of death was revealed to be blunt force trauma, likely from being hit by a ship. Doublestuf is a tragic example of why ships need guidelines on how to behave around whales. Oreo has closed saddle patches on both her left and right side and no notches in her dorsal fin. 

Statistics

Mother: J16 Slick

Sex: Male

Year of Birth: 1991

Age: 32

Living Siblings: J36 Alki and J42 Echo

Living Calves: J42 Echo

About Mike

Mike is a male in J pod, in the J16s. His mother is J16 Slick. He was born in 1991. His sisters are J36 Alki, J42 Echo and J50 Scarlet. Scarlet died in 2018, and his nephew, J52 Sonic, Alki’s son, died in 2017. 

You might notice that Echo is listed as Mike's sister and his daughter. This is unfortunately true. Ordinarily, orcas do not inbreed like this, and it's not known why Slick and Mike mated and digressed from normal animal behavior. It could be a result of the Southern Resident's population decrease, or from something else. 

Mike was born in 1991, shortly after Michael Bigg, a prominent whale researcher, had passed away from cancer. The whale is named after the scientist who helped to change cetology forever.

Statistics

Mother: J11 Blossom

Father: J1 Ruffles

Sex: Male

Year of Birth: 1991

Age: 32

Living Siblings: J31 Tsuchi and J39 Mako

About Blackberry

Blackberry is a male in J pod. He was born in 1991. His mother was J11 Blossom, who died in 2008, and his father was J1 Ruffles. His sister is J31 Tsuchi, and his brother is J39 Mako. His niece, Tsuchi’s daughter, is J56 Tofino. Blackberry is a particularly well known whale in the region. His saddle patches are significantly more open on the right than on the left, making him easy to identify.

Blackberry is named after the plants common to his home region. 

Statistics

Mother: J11 Blossom

Sex: Female

Year of Birth: 1995

Age: 28

Living Siblings: J27 Blackberry and J39 Mako

Living Calves: J56 Tofino

About Tsuchi

Tsuchi’s mother was J11 Blossom, who died in 2008. Tsuchi was born in 1995. Her brothers are J27 Blackberry and J39 Mako. Her daughter is J56 Tofino. It's believed that Tsuchi was pregnant seven times before successfully carrying a calf to term, an example of how starvation stress is directly impacting the Southern Resident's ability to reproduce. Tsuchi has closed saddle patches and no notches on her dorsal fin. 

Statistics

Mother: J17 Princess Angeline

Father: L41 Mega

Sex: Female

Year of Birth: 1998

Age: 25

Living Siblings: J44 Moby and J53 Kiki

Living Calves: J47 Notch and J57 Phoenix

About Tahlequah

Tahlequah was born in 1998, to J17 Princess Angeline, who died in 2019. Tahlequah's father was L41 Mega. Tahlequah’s sister is J28 Polaris, who died in 2016. Tahlequah is the matriarch of her immediate family. She has a brother, J44 Moby, and a sister, J53 Kiki. Tahlequah’s sons are J47 Notch and J57. Tahlequah also cares for J46 Star, Polaris’s daughter. In 2017, Tahlequah gave birth to a calf who died a few hours after birth because of the starvation that the southern resident orcas have endured due to the downtick in salmon entering the Puget Sound. She proceeded to carry the calf’s carcass around on her rostrum and back for seventeen days, bringing it to the surface to breathe. In September of 2020, Tahlequah gave birth to J57, who appears to be healthy. This is her third calf. J57 has been named Phoenix, as he is reborn and rises from the ashes of Tahlequah's calf. 

Tahlequah is a small town in the Salish range. It was where J35 was first spotted as a baby.

Statistics

Mother: J16 Slick

Father: L41 Mega

Sex: Female

Year of Birth: 1999

Age: 24

Living Siblings: J26 Mike and J42 Echo

About Alki

Alki was born in 1999 to J16 Slick, and her father was L41 Mega. Today, Alki has two living siblings, brother J26 Mike and sister J42 Echo. In 2015, Alki had her first calf, J52 Sonic, who later died when he was two years old. In September 2021, Alki was photographed in the later stages of pregnancy. Later, in the winter of 2022, it appeared that Alki was no longer pregnant, and that she had lost the calf. This is unfortunately very common among this population, and I hope for healing and joy for Alki in the coming year. 

Alki is named for Alki Point, Washington.

Statistics

Mother: J14 Samish

Father: L41 Mega

Sex: Female

Year of Birth: 2001

Age: 22

Living Siblings: J40 Suttles and J45 Se-Yi'-Chn

Living Calves: J49 T'ilem I'nges and J59

About Hy'shqa

Hy’shqa is a female in J pod, born in 2001. Hy’shqa’s mother was J14 Samish, who died in 2016, and her father was L41 Mega. Hy’shqa is now the matriarch of her immediate family. She was born in 2001. Hy’shqa’s sister is J40 Suttles and her brother is J45 Se-Yi’-Chn. Hy’shqa’s son is J49 T’ilem I’nges. In September 2021, Hy'shqa was photographed pregnant, and almost to term, and in the winter of 2022, she was spotted with. a. brand new calf, J59. Hy'shqa has already proven herself to be an accomplished mother and matriarch, and I wish her all the best as she embarks on this second journey in raising a calf. 

Statistics

Mother: J22 Oreo

Sex: Male

Year of Birth: 2003

Age: 20

About Cookie

Cookie is a male in J pod who was born in 2003. His mother is J22 Oreo. His brother was J34 Doublestuf, who died in 2016. Cookie has a very curved dorsal fin, which is used to identify him. 

Statistics

Mother: J11 Blossom

Father: J1 Ruffles

Sex: Male

Year of Birth: 2003

Age: 20

Living Siblings: J27 Blackberry and J31 Tsuchi

About Mako

Mako is a male in J pod who was born in 2003. His mother was J11 Blossom, who died in 2008, and his father was J1 Ruffles. Mako’s brother is J27 Blackberry and his sister is J31 Tsuchi. His niece is Tsuchi’s daughter, J56 Tofino. Mako has recently started to sprout his dorsal fin, so I'm excited to see him grow. Mako is named after a type of shark.

Statistics

Mother: J14 Samish

Father: L41 Mega

Sex: Female

Year of Birth: 2004

Age: 19

Living Siblings: J37 Hy'shqa and J45 Se-Yi'-Chn

About Suttles

Suttles is a female in J pod. Her mother is J14 Samish, who died in 2016, and her father was L41 Mega. Suttles was born in 2004. Her sister is J37 Hy’shqa and her brother is J45 Se-Yi’-Chn. Her nephew is Hy’shqa’s son, J49 T’ilem I’nges, and she also has another nephew/neice, Hy'shqa's calf J59. Suttles has closed saddle patches and her dorsal fin is unnotched. 

Statistics

Mother: J19 Shachi

 Father: J1 Ruffles

Sex: Female

Year of Birth: 2005

Age: 18

Living Calves: J51 Nova and J58 Crescent

About Eclipse

Eclipse is a female in J pod. Her mother is J19 Shachi, and her father was J1 Ruffles, who has since passed away. She was born in 2005. Eclipse’s son is J51 Nova, born in 2015. Eclipse has a second calf, a daughter, J58 Crescent, born on September 24th, 2020 in front of researchers. Eclipse has no notches in her dorsal fin and closed saddle patches.

Statistics

Mother: J16 Slick

Father: J26 Mike

Sex: Female

Year of Birth: 2007

Age: 16

Living Siblings: J26 Mike and J36 Alki

About Echo

J42 Echo is a female in J pod. She is a member of the J16s because her mother is J16, Slick. Echo was born in 2007. Her brother is J26 Mike and her sister is J36 Alki. Echo’s sister, J50 Scarlet, died in 2018, and her nephew, J52 Sonic, Alki’s son, died in 2017. Echo is inbred, a result of unusual mother-son mating. It's not known if this will cause infertility or other health problems for her. 

Echo has been suspected to be pregnant multiple times, but has never given birth to a calf. 

Statistics

Mother: J17 Princess Angeline

Father: L41 Mega

Sex: Male

Year of Birth: 2009

Age: 14

Living Siblings: J35 Tahlequah and J53 Kiki

About Moby

J44 Moby is a male in J pod, who was born in 2009. His mother was J17 Princess Angeline, who died in 2019. His father was L41 Mega. His sisters are J35 Tahlequah, J53 Kiki, and J28 Polaris. Polaris died in 2016. His niece is J46 Star, Polaris’s daughter. His nephews are J47 Notch and J57 Phoenix, Tahlequah's sons. Moby has closed saddle patches and a very small notch in the middle of his fin. 

Statistics

Mother: J14 Samish

Father: L41 Mega

Sex: Male

Year of Birth: 2009

Age: 14

Living Siblings: J37 Hy'shqa and J40 Suttles

About Se-Yi'-Chn

Se-Yi’-Chn is a male in J pod who was born in 2009. His mother is J14 Samish, who died in 2016, and his father was L41 Mega. His name means "little brother". His sisters are J37 Hy’shqa and J40 Suttles. His nephew is Hy’shqa’s son, J49 T’ilem I’nges, and he has another nephew/neice, J59, Hy'shqa's newest calf. Se-Yi’-Chn has closed saddle patches. 

Statistics

Mother: J28 Polaris

Father: J1 Ruffles

Sex: Female

Year of Birth: 2009

Age: 14

About Star

Star is a female in J pod. She was born in 2009. Her mother was J28 Polaris, who died in 2016, and her father was J1 Ruffles. Her aunts are J35 Tahlequah and J53 Kiki, her uncle is J44 Moby, and her cousins are J47 Notch and J57 Phoenix, Tahlequah’s kids. 

In October 2020, Star appeared pregnant, but was never seen with a calf, and scientists believe she lost the pregnancy. Star is named after her mother, Polaris, the north star. 

Statistics

Mother: J35 Tahlequah

Sex: Male

Year of Birth: 2010

Age: 13

Living Siblings: J57 Phoenix

About Notch

Notch is a male in J pod. He was born in 2010, and his mother is J35 Tahlequah. His brother is J57 Phoenix, who was born in 2020. J47 has been observed being a good big brother to the pod's addition. His uncle is J44 Moby and his aunt is J53 Kiki. His cousin is J46 Star, J28 Polaris’s daughter. Polaris died in 2016. Notch is named for a large rectangular notch in the middle of his dorsal fin. 

Statistics

Mother: J37 Hy'shqa

Sex: Male

Year of Birth: 2012

Age: 10

Living Siblings: J59

About T'ilem I'nges

T’ilem I’nges is a male in J pod. He was born in 2012 and his mother is J37 Hy’shqa. His aunt is J40 Suttles and his uncle is J45 Se-Yi’-Chn. T'ilem I'nges has a little sibling, J59.

Statistics

Mother: J41 Eclipse

Sex: Male

Year of Birth: 2015

Age: 8

Living Siblings: J58 Crescent 

About Nova

Nova is a male in J pod. He was born in 2015, and his mother is J41 Eclipse, and his grandmother is J19 Shachi. Nova has a young sister, J58 Crescent! Nova usually travels with his family, but he has also been observed hanging out with other males in J pod. Nova is named after a type of salmon, but his name also matches the celestial theme of his mom and sister. 

Statistics

Mother: J17 Princess Angeline

Father: L41 Mega

Sex: Female

Year of Birth: 2015

Age: 8

 Living Siblings: J35 Tahlequah and J44 Moby

About Kiki

Kiki is a female in J pod who was born in 2015. Her mother was J17 Princess Angeline, who died in 2019. her father was L41 Mega. Her sisters are J35 Tahlequah and J28 Polaris. Polaris died in 2016, leaving behind Kiki’s niece, J46 Star. Her brother is J44 Moby, and her nephews are Tahlequah’s sons, J47 Notch and J57 Phoenix, Tahlequah's newest calf. 

Statistics

Mother: J31 Tsuchi

Sex: Female

Year of Birth: 2019

Age: 4

About Tofino

Tofino is a female member of J pod who was born in 2019. Her mother is J31 Tsuchi. Her uncles are J27 Blackberry and J39 Mako. Tofino is named after Tofino, BC. In August/September of 2021, Tofino was photographed appearing to be in poor health, with a thin frame and odd complexion. These are signs of starvation, the number one threat to the Southern Residents today. These periods of low weight, especially at 2 and 3 years old, are common among SRs, and many calves survive them and gain weight again. This is when killer whales fully wean from mom's milk. Tofi's behavior is still energetic, and so I expect that she will recover. 

Tofi was born right when I started studying whales. She defies the odds again and again. Her mother, Tsuchi, suffered seven miscarriages before finally carrying Tofi to term. At the time of her birth, Tofi was the first calf in five years to survive infancy. I love her so much. 

Statistics

Mother: J35 Tahlequah

Sex: Male

Date of Birth: September 4th, 2020

Age: 2

Living Siblings: J47 Notch

About Phoneix

Phoenix is a male calf. He was born on September 4th, 2020, his mother is J35 Tahlequah, and his brother is J47 Notch. HIs uncle is J44 Moby, his aunt is J53 Kiki, and his cousin is J46 Star. At first look, Phoenix appears to be a healthy weight and displaying normal calf behaviors. Whales <3 months old tend to have an orange color on what will be their white patches. Phoenix is beginning to shed his orange baby skin. Though there are still many variables, hopefully we will get to see this little whale grow! His name comes from the fact that before he was born, his mother had a calf who died shortly after birth. Tahlequah carried the calf's body on her rostrum for seventeen days. In some ways, Phoenix really is rising from the ashes.

Statistics

Mother: J41 Eclipse

Sex: Female

Date of Birth: September 24th, 2020

Age: 2

Living Siblings: J51 Nova

About Crescent

Crescent is a calf in J pod. She was born on September 24th, 2020, at around 2:30pm. J58's birth was actually witnessed by researchers and photographers. Her mother is J41 Eclipse, her older brother is J51 Nova, and her grandmother is J19 Shachi. Very young calves tend to be orangey colored in the first few months of life. This tends to go away as they get bigger. There are many variables in a young calf's life, but it seems well acclimated, and there are many people and whales hoping for it to have a safe, happy, and healthy life. Crescent's name is meant to be in the same celestial theme as her mom and brother.