Get to Know the Resident Killer Whales of Southern British Columbia
To simply watch the Southern Resident Killer Whales is only part of the joy of knowing them. As with any family there is a long-standing history and telltale social interactions that a trained eye can reveal, giving witnesses a glimpse into lives of sophistication beyond our current understanding. It is a privilege to be intimately acquainted with the lives of these much-loved Killer Whales, a group of animals that have been recognized around the world and immortalized in pop-culture and film. Below is a brief introduction to these three iconic families.
J Pod
J Pod whales can be affectionately referred to as the ‘resident’ Southern Resident’s - due to their spending the largest amount of time in BC and Washington State’s coastal waters throughout the entire year. As per the Centre for Whale Research’s 2015 population survey, J Pod contains 30 members with five brand new calves, each looking healthy and growing rapidly as the seasons pass. This pod contains the iconic female known as J2 or ‘Granny.’ Estimated to be 104 years old, Granny is a true matriarch within the family and the eldest in the Southern Resident population. Five mature males can be seen within J pod, easily identifiable by their impressive size – with several more juveniles whose dorsal fins have yet to reach full height.
K Pod
K Pod is by far the smallest of the three Southern Resident pods, with a 2015 population count of 19 whales and no new calves since the birth of a male in 2011. Eight both fully mature and near mature males can be found in K pod, with K21 ‘Cappuccino’ being the eldest. Born in 1986, Cappuccino has no known immediate family remaining within the pod since K40 ‘Raggedy’ past away, who was believed to be his sister. This pod is identifiable by their pronounced ‘open’ saddle-patches, which can be found among members of other pods but are especially prominent within this family.
L Pod
L Pod holds strong as the largest Southern Resident family with 36 members and three new calves born in 2015, presently known as L121 ‘Windsong,’ and the not-yet-named L122 and L123. This pod can be affectionately dubbed as the rebels of the population, known to roam a slightly wider territory and spend more time away from coastal waters than the other two families. Eight mature males travel within L pod, with nine more yet to reach full size. The second eldest female in the population is a member of this pod, born in 1928 ‘Ocean Sun’ is 88 years old. This matriarch has outlived her immediate family, but travels closely with other pod members for companionship.
It is a pleasure to share stories of the Southern Resident Killer Whales with both those who have admired them for years, and those whom have not yet had the chance to experience them in person. This blog will be periodically updated with current news and updates about the whales as they unfold, collected from both research organizations and personal experience. Enjoy!
All photos property of Amanda Madro
Read more about Amanda Madro's introduction to British Columbia's orcas, and what makes these pods so unique. Or join our trip to see these orcas up close and personal.
