Remembering Granny and DoubleStuf

Posted January 20, 2017 at 5:52 am by

This is shared with you from the Whale Museum…

Photo collage of Granny and members of the Southern Resident orcas by Jeanne Hyde – Click to enlarge

It is with great respect we say goodbye to Granny (J-2). She led her community through many trying times, from captures, industrialization, to the current depletion of their main food source Chinook salmon.

Granny was there through the thick of it all and she taught and passed on her knowledge to others. She also liked to have fun! Whether cartwheeling, breaching, or surrounded by others she was a joy to see. The question would often arise, “Has anyone see Granny today?”

She might have been in the lead by a mile, mixed in with others or trailing behind but Granny was always there with J Pod. We humans expressed concern about her, our orca friend. After all, she was one of our family.

The time came when encounter after encounter, the question was asked if anyone had seen Granny. The reply came in the form of silence. That silence grew until it was confirmed that Granny was missing. She had not been seen in over two months and was believed to be deceased (announcement by the Center for Whale Research, December 31, 2016).

Many are sharing their memories and photos of Granny. Please join them by submitting your Granny stories and/or photos here: [email protected]. They will contribute to a permanent exhibit at The Whale Museum so others can learn about Granny and how she touched the lives of so many people over the years.

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Photo collage of DoubleStuf and members of the Southern Resident orcas by Jeanne Hyde – Click to enlarge

We also have to say goodbye to DoubleStuf (J-34) whose death was unexpected and truly shocking. He was first seen in Puget Sound in early December, 1997 and died December 20, 2016.

His body was found near Sechelt, B.C. Initial necropsy results conducted by Fisheries and Oceans Canada determined he died of blunt force trauma. Necropsy updates will be posted here when they become available. 

DoubleStuf traveled close to his mother Oreo (J-22). He had a tall narrow dorsal fin, was just coming into adulthood, and was often seen chasing after a salmon. This beautiful whale will be greatly missed.

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Categories: Animals, Wildlife

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