J32 Rhapsody

J32 "Rhapsody." Photo provided by the Center for Whale Research.

### Half-Siblings

*J14 "Samish"*, K14 "Lea", *L57 "Faith"*, J22 "Oreo", J27 "Blackberry", *J28 "Polaris"*, K27 "Deadhead", *J33 "Keet"*, J39 "Mako", L103 "Lapis", K37 "Rainshadow", J41 "Eclipse", L108 "Coho", L109 "Takoda", J46 "Star", K43 "Saturna", L118 "Jade"

### Aunts & Uncles

***J5 "Saratoga"***, ***J18 "Everett"***, **J22 "Oreo"**

### Nieces & Nephews

*J23 "Capricorn"*, *K23 "Alnair"*, *K24 "Delphinus"*, K26 "Lobo", *J30 "Riptide"*, *J34 "Doublestuf"*, J37 "Hy'Shqa", J38 "Cookie", K36 "Yoda", L105 "Fluke", J40 "Suttles", K38 "Comet", *J43 "Bellatrix"*, K42 "Kelp", J45 "Se-Yi'-Chn", L113 "Cousteau", J46 "Star", J47 "Notch", *K44 "Ripple"*, J49 "T'ilem I'nges", *J28 Polaris' Calf (2013)*, J51 "Nova", L123 "Lazuli", *J54 "Dipper"*, *J22 Oreo's Calf (2016)*, J58 "Crescent", J59 "Sxwyeqólh"

### Cousins

***J13***, ***J17 "Princess Angeline"***, ***J28 "Polaris"***, ***J34 "Doublestuf"***, **J35 "Tahlequah"**, **J38 "Cookie"**, **J44 "Moby"**, **J46 "Star"**, **J47 "Notch"**, ***J28 Polaris' Calf (2013)***, **J53 "Kiki"**, ***J54 "Dipper"***, ***J22 Oreo's Calf (2016)***, ***J35 Tahlequah's Calf (2018)***, **J57 "Phoenix"**

J32 "Rhapsody" (*pronounced RAP-suh-dee*) was an approximately 18-year-old female Southern resident killer whale.

## Early Life

Rhapsody was first seen in April of 1996 and was believed to have been born the previous winter. Her mother was first-time mom J20 "Ewok." Ewok died in 1998 when Rhapsody was only two years old. That same year, Ewok's sister J22 "Oreo" gave birth to her first calf and raised Rhapsody alongside her own calf. Genetic testing revealed that Rhapsody's father was J1 "Ruffles."

## Calves

In May of 2011, Rhapsody was believed to be pregnant. By May of 2012 however, she appeared skinny again. Rhapsody was believed to be pregnant again in June of 2014.

## Death

Rhapsody was last seen alive on November 29th, 2014. On December 4th, Rhapsody was found deceased in northwest Georgia Strait near Courtenay, British Columbia. She was believed to died late on December 3rd, due to the relative freshness of her body. In her uterus was a full-term fetus that had died several days before Rhapsody did. Rhapsody's body was towed to shore. Before the body could be necropsied, several teeth were stolen from it.  Rhapsody's body was necropsied on December 6th, and the cause of death was determined to likely be an infection caused by the deceased fetus in her uterus that she had failed to expel. Other findings from the necropsy found that Rhapsody had a thin and dry layer of blubber, indicating malnutrition. She also had a blocked colon.  After the necropsy was complete, Rhapsody's skeleton was donated to the Royal British Columbia Museum, where it is on display.

## Galleries

* **Photos** of J32 Rhapsody
* **Videos** of J32 Rhapsody

## Trivia

* The name "Rhapsody" has two different attributions. Musically, a rhapsody is a feeling of ecstacy or enthusiasm. In terms of old Greek, however, a rhapsody is "an epic poem, or part of it."

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 'J32 Preliminary Necropsy Report'
2. ↑ 'Who's Whose Father?'
3. ↑ 'Teeth Stolen From Dead, Pregnant Orca On Vancouver Island'
4. ↑ 'Orcas: Our Shared Future'