#j40

J40 Suttles: 2004-

Possible great-granddaughter of J2 Granny

Granddaughter of J12 Sissy and J1 Ruffles

Daughter of J14 Samish and L41 Mega

Mother of J63

Sister of J23 Capricorn, J30 Riptide, J37 Hy'Shqa, J43 Bellatrix, and J45 Se-Yi-Chn

Aunt of J49 T'ilem I'nges and J59 Sxwyeqolh

Probable niece of J24 Eltanin/Canuck

Date: March 2, 2022

Media Release: For immediate release

From: Center for Whale Research

Subject: Another New Calf in J Pod!

On March 1, we welcomed the meteorological first day of spring and a new calf in J Pod!

We received word that J Pod was nearby (off Landbank, San Juan Island), and there was possibly a new addition to the Southern Resident orca family.

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The Center for Whale Research's (CWR) photo-ID expert, Dave Ellifrit, found the whales near Kelp Reef and confirmed the new addition to J pod. The calf was next to J37, with J47 and J40 nearby. CWR field staff last saw J37 during Encounter #12 on February 11, 2022, and she did not have a calf at that time. We estimate this baby was born within the past few days, given its "lumpy" physical nature.

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Dave captured images of J37 with her new baby traveling in a tight group with other family members. CWR designates this newborn: J59. J59's sex is unknown at this time. Its size and shape are typical of a calf in good physical condition.

J59 is the first calf born into J Pod since September 2020, when J41 gave birth to J58 (female).

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The new mother, J37 (born 2001), is part of the J14 matriline and has two siblings, J40 (female, born 2004) and J45 (male, born 2009). She was a young mother, only 11 years old when she gave birth to her first calf in 2012: J49 (male).

J37 Hy’Shqa and J59 

J37 Hy’Shqa, J59, and J40 Suttles

J16s and J19s

Unrelated to the CWR Press Release though, J19 Shachi and J36 Alki appear to have lost their pregnancies, as was reported by SR3 via The Seattle Times

Photo and press release credit by the Center for Whale Research J59

J40 on February 29th, 2020.

J47 Notch and J57 Phoenix

J39 Mako and J51 Nova

J38 Cookie

J37 Hy’Shqa

J36 Alki and J26 Mike

J27 Blackberry

J26 Mike

J26 Mike, J16 Slick, and J40 Suttles

J16 Slick, J27 Blackberry, J36 Alki, and J31 Tsuchi

J47 Phoenix (ID done by me)

J37 Hy’Shqa and J59

J16s and J19s

J49 T’ilem I’nges

J22 Oreo tail flick next to J16 Slick and J36 Alki

J42 Echo and J19 Shachi

J37 Hy’Shqa, J59, and J40 Suttles