A4 Pod
Encyclopedia
A4 pod is the name given to one of the best known killer whale families in British Columbia
.
It currently consists of 3 matrilines and 14 members and is most famous for being the family of young Springer
, who was the first orca to be successfully reintroduced to the wild after being handled by humans. A4 pod is part of the northern resident community of orcas found in coastal waters ranging from mid-Vancouver Island
to Southeastern Alaska
up through the Queen Charlotte Islands
, although A4 pod has yet to be seen this far north. The community is made up of three clans known as A, G and R clans, each possessing a distinctive dialect and consisting of several related pods. A4 pod belongs to the biggest clan, A clan.
and Graeme Ellis in 1972. At that time, it was called “The Six” and was first thought to be part A pod. When it became clear to researchers that these whales spent a significant amount of time apart from the rest of the group and had just happened to be travelling together when first identified, it was named A4 pod and A pod became A1 pod, A4 pod and A5 pod. Also, when the study began, it was assumed that orca pods were harems led by mature males. Thus, A4 pod was named after a large bull called A4 while it should have been named A10 pod after the matriarch A10.
, leaving to her probable daughters Yakat (A11) and Kelsey (A24) the roles of matriarchs while still being young adults. In 1986, the pod began splitting into two subpods, A11, led by Yakat (A11) and A24, led by probable sister Kelsey (A24). However, these matrilines still spend most of their time together. Starting in the early 2000s, Yakat’s oldest daughter Skagit (A35) and her offspring began spending time apart from the rest of the group, thus creating a third matriline, A35. It is important to note, however, that the A35s and the A11s are still most often seen together.
, the gunshots attracting a whale watching vessel nearby which immediately went to find them. According to the operator of the boat, A47 was bleeding profusely while being supported by its mother. Both of the whales later died that winter. Over the years, unexpected deaths have hit the family many times, despite the ceasing of shootings and live captures for aquaria.
In 2001, Kelsey’s daughter Sutlej (A45) died, leaving two year old daughter Springer
(A73) orphaned. In 2002, Springer was found alone and emaciated in Puget Sound
, several hundreds of miles away from her family’s home range. After being taken to Johnstone Strait
and brought back to health, she was successfully reintroduced to wild whales before settling in with her grand aunt Yakat’s matriline. In 2006, Yakat’s son Skeena (A13) sustained an injury to the top of his dorsal fin and her great-grandchild Canoona (A82) was hit by a boat propeller. The whale then went missing and is now considered dead.
region during the summer and fall and are often seen with other northern resident pods, especially A1
and A5 pods
which appear to be very closely related to one another. A4 pod also has the particularity of being the only resident pod to frequently feed on pink salmon
, to which residents usually prefer the larger, fatter Chinook salmon
.
The A11 matriline, which consists of Yakat (A11), born around 1958, her daughter Nahwitti (A56), born in 1990, her grandniece Springer (A73), born around 2000 and Nahwitti's first calf, born in 2010 and which hasn't been named yet.
The A24 matriline, which consists of Yakat’s sister Kelsey (A24), born around 1967 and her children Schooner (A64), born in 1995, Magin (A71), born in 1999, Toba (A78), born in 2003 and A94, born in 2009, as well as Schooner's first offspring, Kanish (A89).
The A35 matriline, which consists of Yakat’s daughter Skagit (A35), born in 1974, her daughter Kiltick (A52) born in 1987, her children Sunny (A70) born in 1999, Roller, born in 2003, Pine (A90), born in 2008 and Kiltick’s own calf Nalau (A81), born in 2004.
Deceased members include: A10 (1941-1983), A4 (1952-1984), A19 (1973-1973), A47 (1983-1983), Siwiti (A48; 1983-1996), A65 (1996-1996), A41 (1981-1981), Sutlej (A45; 1983-2001), A68 (1997-1997), A49 (1985-1986), Scylla (A53; 1988-1992), Surf (A58; 1992-1993), A76 (2002-2002), Racey (A59; 1992-2006), Canoona (2004-2006) and Skeena (A13; 1978-2010).
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
.
It currently consists of 3 matrilines and 14 members and is most famous for being the family of young Springer
Springer (orca)
Springer , officially named A73, is a wild killer whale from the Northern Resident Community of whales which every summer frequent the waters off the northern part of Vancouver Island, British Columbia...
, who was the first orca to be successfully reintroduced to the wild after being handled by humans. A4 pod is part of the northern resident community of orcas found in coastal waters ranging from mid-Vancouver Island
Vancouver Island
Vancouver Island is a large island in British Columbia, Canada. It is one of several North American locations named after George Vancouver, the British Royal Navy officer who explored the Pacific Northwest coast of North America between 1791 and 1794...
to Southeastern Alaska
Alaska
Alaska is the largest state in the United States by area. It is situated in the northwest extremity of the North American continent, with Canada to the east, the Arctic Ocean to the north, and the Pacific Ocean to the west and south, with Russia further west across the Bering Strait...
up through the Queen Charlotte Islands
Queen Charlotte Islands
Haida Gwaii , formerly the Queen Charlotte Islands, is an archipelago on the North Coast of British Columbia, Canada. Haida Gwaii consists of two main islands: Graham Island in the north, and Moresby Island in the south, along with approximately 150 smaller islands with a total landmass of...
, although A4 pod has yet to be seen this far north. The community is made up of three clans known as A, G and R clans, each possessing a distinctive dialect and consisting of several related pods. A4 pod belongs to the biggest clan, A clan.
Early research and naming
A4 pod was one of the first pods photo-identified by Michael BiggMichael Bigg
Michael Bigg was a Canadian marine biologist who is recognized as the founder of modern research on killer whales. With his colleagues, he developed new techniques for studying killer whales and conducted the first population census of the animals...
and Graeme Ellis in 1972. At that time, it was called “The Six” and was first thought to be part A pod. When it became clear to researchers that these whales spent a significant amount of time apart from the rest of the group and had just happened to be travelling together when first identified, it was named A4 pod and A pod became A1 pod, A4 pod and A5 pod. Also, when the study began, it was assumed that orca pods were harems led by mature males. Thus, A4 pod was named after a large bull called A4 while it should have been named A10 pod after the matriarch A10.
Evolution of the pod
When A4 pod was first encountered, it travelled as one group led by the matriarch A10. However, in 1983, she and her latest calf A47 where shot at the rubbing beaches in Robson BightRobson Bight
Robson Bight is a small Vancouver Island bay at the west end of Johnstone Strait across from West Cracroft Island in British Columbia, Canada that includes a protected killer whale habitat famous for its whale-rubbing beaches...
, leaving to her probable daughters Yakat (A11) and Kelsey (A24) the roles of matriarchs while still being young adults. In 1986, the pod began splitting into two subpods, A11, led by Yakat (A11) and A24, led by probable sister Kelsey (A24). However, these matrilines still spend most of their time together. Starting in the early 2000s, Yakat’s oldest daughter Skagit (A35) and her offspring began spending time apart from the rest of the group, thus creating a third matriline, A35. It is important to note, however, that the A35s and the A11s are still most often seen together.
Tragedies
The A4 pod has had more deaths than any other pod in the northern resident community, with 16 deaths recorded since the study began. Kelsey (A24) has lost her first five calves, as well as her two younger siblings and Yakat (A11) has lost two offspring, one of her grandchildren and one of her great-grandchildren. Moreover, Yakat and Kelsey’s mother A10 and sibling A47 died in tragic circumstances in 1983. The two were shot at the rubbing beaches in Robson BightRobson Bight
Robson Bight is a small Vancouver Island bay at the west end of Johnstone Strait across from West Cracroft Island in British Columbia, Canada that includes a protected killer whale habitat famous for its whale-rubbing beaches...
, the gunshots attracting a whale watching vessel nearby which immediately went to find them. According to the operator of the boat, A47 was bleeding profusely while being supported by its mother. Both of the whales later died that winter. Over the years, unexpected deaths have hit the family many times, despite the ceasing of shootings and live captures for aquaria.
In 2001, Kelsey’s daughter Sutlej (A45) died, leaving two year old daughter Springer
Springer (orca)
Springer , officially named A73, is a wild killer whale from the Northern Resident Community of whales which every summer frequent the waters off the northern part of Vancouver Island, British Columbia...
(A73) orphaned. In 2002, Springer was found alone and emaciated in Puget Sound
Puget Sound
Puget Sound is a sound in the U.S. state of Washington. It is a complex estuarine system of interconnected marine waterways and basins, with one major and one minor connection to the Strait of Juan de Fuca and the Pacific Ocean — Admiralty Inlet being the major connection and...
, several hundreds of miles away from her family’s home range. After being taken to Johnstone Strait
Johnstone Strait
Johnstone Strait is a channel along the north east coast of Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Canada. Opposite the Vancouver Island coast, running north to south, are Hanson Island, West Cracroft Island, the mainland British Columbia Coast, Hardwick Island, West Thurlow Island and East...
and brought back to health, she was successfully reintroduced to wild whales before settling in with her grand aunt Yakat’s matriline. In 2006, Yakat’s son Skeena (A13) sustained an injury to the top of his dorsal fin and her great-grandchild Canoona (A82) was hit by a boat propeller. The whale then went missing and is now considered dead.
The pod today
Having three reproductive females, A4 pod can be recognised by the large proportion of young calves and juveniles. Probably because of the many tragedies that have hit the family over the years, the A4s are much warier of boats than other pods and often prefer to stay far away from them despite being more tolerant than in the 1980s. They are one of the most commonly encountered groups of orcas, mostly due to their preference for the Johnstone StraitJohnstone Strait
Johnstone Strait is a channel along the north east coast of Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Canada. Opposite the Vancouver Island coast, running north to south, are Hanson Island, West Cracroft Island, the mainland British Columbia Coast, Hardwick Island, West Thurlow Island and East...
region during the summer and fall and are often seen with other northern resident pods, especially A1
A1 pod
A1 pod is the name given to one of the best known killer whale families in British Columbia. It currently consists of 3 matrilines and 22 members and is the most commonly encountered pod in the Northern resident killer whale community...
and A5 pods
A5 Pod
A5 pod is a name given to a group of orcas found off the coast of British Columbia, Canada. It is part of the northern resident population of orcas - a name given to the fish-eating orcas found in coastal waters ranging from mid-Vancouver Island up through the Queen Charlotte Islands of British...
which appear to be very closely related to one another. A4 pod also has the particularity of being the only resident pod to frequently feed on pink salmon
Pink salmon
Pink salmon or humpback salmon, Oncorhynchus gorbuscha, is a species of anadromous fish in the salmon family. It is the smallest and most abundant of the Pacific salmon.- Appearance :...
, to which residents usually prefer the larger, fatter Chinook salmon
Chinook salmon
The Chinook salmon, Oncorhynchus tshawytscha, is the largest species in the pacific salmon family. Other commonly used names for the species include King salmon, Quinnat salmon, Spring salmon and Tyee salmon...
.
Current status
As of July 2010, A4 pod consists of three matrilines and 14 members. The three matrilines are:The A11 matriline, which consists of Yakat (A11), born around 1958, her daughter Nahwitti (A56), born in 1990, her grandniece Springer (A73), born around 2000 and Nahwitti's first calf, born in 2010 and which hasn't been named yet.
The A24 matriline, which consists of Yakat’s sister Kelsey (A24), born around 1967 and her children Schooner (A64), born in 1995, Magin (A71), born in 1999, Toba (A78), born in 2003 and A94, born in 2009, as well as Schooner's first offspring, Kanish (A89).
The A35 matriline, which consists of Yakat’s daughter Skagit (A35), born in 1974, her daughter Kiltick (A52) born in 1987, her children Sunny (A70) born in 1999, Roller, born in 2003, Pine (A90), born in 2008 and Kiltick’s own calf Nalau (A81), born in 2004.
Deceased members include: A10 (1941-1983), A4 (1952-1984), A19 (1973-1973), A47 (1983-1983), Siwiti (A48; 1983-1996), A65 (1996-1996), A41 (1981-1981), Sutlej (A45; 1983-2001), A68 (1997-1997), A49 (1985-1986), Scylla (A53; 1988-1992), Surf (A58; 1992-1993), A76 (2002-2002), Racey (A59; 1992-2006), Canoona (2004-2006) and Skeena (A13; 1978-2010).
See also
- SpringerSpringer (orca)Springer , officially named A73, is a wild killer whale from the Northern Resident Community of whales which every summer frequent the waters off the northern part of Vancouver Island, British Columbia...
- A1 podA1 podA1 pod is the name given to one of the best known killer whale families in British Columbia. It currently consists of 3 matrilines and 22 members and is the most commonly encountered pod in the Northern resident killer whale community...
- A5 PodA5 PodA5 pod is a name given to a group of orcas found off the coast of British Columbia, Canada. It is part of the northern resident population of orcas - a name given to the fish-eating orcas found in coastal waters ranging from mid-Vancouver Island up through the Queen Charlotte Islands of British...
- List of Northern Resident Killer Whale Pods
Books
- Ford, John K.B.; Ellis, Graeme M.; & Balcomb, Kenneth C. (2000). Killer Whales (2nd ed.). UBC Press. ISBN 0-7748-0800-4.
- Hoyt, Erich. (1990). Orca: The Whale Called Killer (3rd ed.). London: Robert Hale Limited. ISBN 0-920656-25-0.
- Morton, Alexandra. (2002). Listening To Whales : What the Orcas Have Taught Us. Ballantine Books. ISBN 0-345-44288-1.