A5 Pod
Encyclopedia
A5 pod is a name given to a group of orcas (Orcinus orca) 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 Columbia and into the southeastern portions of Alaska
.
The orcas of the northern resident community are divided into vocally distinctive clans known as the A clan, the G clan, and the R clan. Members of the A5 pod belong to the A clan. As of November 2011, A5 pod consists of 13 members.
Over time, studies showed that these congregations of orcas did not make up a complete, distinctive pod. Rather, they were matrilines - a mother and her offspring up to the fourth generation. However, matrilines within a pod frequently socialize with one another, more so than with orcas from another pod - thus still making up a distinct community, and so perpetuating the use of the pod naming.
The A5 pod itself was named after a male orca, A5, also known as Top Notch. He was part of the A9 matriline
, of which his mother, A9 (also known as Scar or Eve) was the leader. The A5 pod is currently made up of three matrilines. The line of A9 has died out with her sons, A5 (Top Notch) and A26 (Foster). She had no surviving daughters to carry on her line, although the matriarch of another family, A8 (Licka) was suspected to be her daughter. A9 washed up on a beach in Johnstone Strait
in November 1990, her stomach containing 5 litres of fish bones representing 13 different species. Other whales in the pod include A23 (Stripe) and A60 (Fife).
Currently, only one orca from these captures still survives to this day. She is, in fact, the only surviving member of those from the northern resident community taken into captivity. Her name is Corky
2, and currently she lives at SeaWorld
in San Diego, California
. From studies of this population, it is known that her mother was A23, also known as Stripe. A23 died in 2000, at the approximate age of 53 years old. Corky had a brother, A27 (Okisollo), also deceased. Her family currently consists of a younger sister, A43 (Ripple), a niece, A69 (Midsummer) and younger brother A60 (Fife).
Other notable members of the A5 pod included A14, also known as Saddle. She was easily recognized by her unique saddle patch - a marking behind the dorsal fin. A14's daughter, A25 (Sharky) was also known for having a unique and very distinct pointed dorsal fin. Saddle died in 1991, around the age of 44, while Sharky died unexpectedly at the age of around 26, in 1997. Sharky's death was a surprise, because her age group has the lowest mortality rate of all age groups.
. In 1973, a young whale was hit by a ferry from British Columbia. Two older whales supported the young one and helped it to breathe. The whale was sighted 15 days later, with the other two still holding it up, then was never seen again. This was presumed by the researchers to be the young whale A21, also an A5 pod whale.
Also, on July 27, 2003, a young male, A60 (Fife), Corky
's brother, was injured by what was assumed to be a boat propeller. By 2004, the injury was well-healed, but left scarring all along his right side.
The three matrilines are:
Notably, every whale currently alive in A5 pod was born during the study, and therefore all of their lineage is known positively.
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...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. 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
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...
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...
of British Columbia and into the southeastern portions of 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...
.
The orcas of the northern resident community are divided into vocally distinctive clans known as the A clan, the G clan, and the R clan. Members of the A5 pod belong to the A clan. As of November 2011, A5 pod consists of 13 members.
Over time, studies showed that these congregations of orcas did not make up a complete, distinctive pod. Rather, they were matrilines - a mother and her offspring up to the fourth generation. However, matrilines within a pod frequently socialize with one another, more so than with orcas from another pod - thus still making up a distinct community, and so perpetuating the use of the pod naming.
Naming
When studies first began, it was assumed all orcas traveling together were part of the same pod. Initially, males were also thought to lead harems of females and their young. Some pods were therefore named after a distinctive male while others were named after other distinctive individuals.The A5 pod itself was named after a male orca, A5, also known as Top Notch. He was part of the A9 matriline
Matrilineality
Matrilineality is a system in which descent is traced through the mother and maternal ancestors. Matrilineality is also a societal system in which one belongs to one's matriline or mother's lineage, which can involve the inheritance of property and/or titles.A matriline is a line of descent from a...
, of which his mother, A9 (also known as Scar or Eve) was the leader. The A5 pod is currently made up of three matrilines. The line of A9 has died out with her sons, A5 (Top Notch) and A26 (Foster). She had no surviving daughters to carry on her line, although the matriarch of another family, A8 (Licka) was suspected to be her daughter. A9 washed up on a beach in 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...
in November 1990, her stomach containing 5 litres of fish bones representing 13 different species. Other whales in the pod include A23 (Stripe) and A60 (Fife).
Capture
As a whole, A5 pod was captured several times during the 1970s, in order to take young orcas into aquariums around the world. Almost an entire generation of orcas were taken from different families of the A5 pod.Currently, only one orca from these captures still survives to this day. She is, in fact, the only surviving member of those from the northern resident community taken into captivity. Her name is Corky
Corky
Corky is a female captive orca from the A5 Pod in British Columbia, Canada. She currently lives at SeaWorld San Diego in California. Corky received her name after the park's original Corky died in December 1970. Of the other animals captured on that day, only Corky still survives...
2, and currently she lives at SeaWorld
SeaWorld
SeaWorld is a United States chain of marine mammal parks, oceanariums, and animal theme parks owned by SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment. The parks feature captive orca, sea lion, and dolphin shows and zoological displays featuring various other marine animals. There are operations in Orlando,...
in San Diego, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. From studies of this population, it is known that her mother was A23, also known as Stripe. A23 died in 2000, at the approximate age of 53 years old. Corky had a brother, A27 (Okisollo), also deceased. Her family currently consists of a younger sister, A43 (Ripple), a niece, A69 (Midsummer) and younger brother A60 (Fife).
Other notable members of the A5 pod included A14, also known as Saddle. She was easily recognized by her unique saddle patch - a marking behind the dorsal fin. A14's daughter, A25 (Sharky) was also known for having a unique and very distinct pointed dorsal fin. Saddle died in 1991, around the age of 44, while Sharky died unexpectedly at the age of around 26, in 1997. Sharky's death was a surprise, because her age group has the lowest mortality rate of all age groups.
Losses
The A5 pod has suffered many losses and deaths over the years. Besides losing a generation of whales to captivity, one young whale, A57 (Kelkpa) was found on the 16th of December in 1996 in a bay in BC. She died that day and became the first orca of the population to die of a known cause: she died of erysipelasErysipelas
Erysipelas is an acute streptococcus bacterial infection of the deep epidermis with lymphatic spread.-Risk factors:...
. In 1973, a young whale was hit by a ferry from British Columbia. Two older whales supported the young one and helped it to breathe. The whale was sighted 15 days later, with the other two still holding it up, then was never seen again. This was presumed by the researchers to be the young whale A21, also an A5 pod whale.
Also, on July 27, 2003, a young male, A60 (Fife), Corky
Corky
Corky is a female captive orca from the A5 Pod in British Columbia, Canada. She currently lives at SeaWorld San Diego in California. Corky received her name after the park's original Corky died in December 1970. Of the other animals captured on that day, only Corky still survives...
's brother, was injured by what was assumed to be a boat propeller. By 2004, the injury was well-healed, but left scarring all along his right side.
Current population
Currently, the A5 pod consists of 3 matrilines and 13 whales.The three matrilines are:
- The A8 Matriline, which consists of sisters A28 (Havannah), born in 1974 and A42 (Sonora), born in 1980, and A42's children A66 (Surf), born in 1996, A79, born in 2004 and A88 (Cameleon), born in 2008. Havannah has never had any offspring, suggesting she may be sterile.
- The A43 Matriline, which consists of siblings A43 (Ripple), born 1981 and A60 (Fife), born 1992, A43's daughter A69 (Midsummer), born 1996 who gave birth to a calf named A96 in 2009.
- The A51 Matriline, which consists of siblings A51 (Nodales), born 1986, and A61 (Surge), born 1994 and Nodales's offsrping, A85 (Cordero, born in 2005) and A95, born in 2009.
Notably, every whale currently alive in A5 pod was born during the study, and therefore all of their lineage is known positively.
Further reading
- 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.