J46 Star

J46 "Star." Photo provided by Melisa Pinnow.

### Half-Siblings

*J14 "Samish"*, K14 "Lea", *L57 "Faith"*, J22 "Oreo", J27 "Blackberry", *J28 "Polaris"*, K27 "Deadhead", *J32 "Rhapsody"*, *J33 "Keet"*, J39 "Mako", L103 "Lapis", K37 "Rainshadow", J41 "Eclipse", L108 "Coho", L109 "Takoda", K43 "Saturna", L118 "Jade", ***J28 Polaris' Calf (2013)***, ***J54 "Dipper"***

### Grand-Parents

- ***J17 "Princess Angeline"***, *J1 "Ruffles"*

### Aunts & Uncles

***J10 "Tahoma"***, ***J13***, *J14 "Samish"*, K14 "Lea", *L57 "Faith"*, J22 "Oreo", J27 "Blackberry", K27 "Deadhead", *J32 "Rhapsody"*, *J33 "Keet"*, **J35 "Tahlequah"**, J39 "Mako", L103 "Lapis", K37 "Rainshadow", J41 "Eclipse", L108 "Coho", L109 "Takoda", **J44 "Moby"**, K43 "Saturna", L118 "Jade", **J53 "Kiki"**

### 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", 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

***J18 "Everett"***, ***J20 "Ewok"***, **J22 "Oreo"**, *J23 "Capricorn"*, *K23 "Alnair"*, *K24 "Delphinus"*, K26 "Lobo", *J30 "Riptide"*, ***J32 "Rhapsody"***, ***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", **J47 "Notch"**, *K44 "Ripple"*, J49 "T'ilem I'nges", J51 "Nova", L123 "Lazuli", ***J22 Oreo's Calf (2016)***, ***J35 Tahlequah's Calf (2018)***, **J57 "Phoenix"**, J58 "Crescent", J59 "Sxwyeqólh"

J46 "Star" (*pronounced STAAR*) is a 14-year-old female Southern resident killer whale.

## Early Life

Star was first seen on November 11th, 2009 with her mother J28 "Polaris." She was her mother's first calf.   Genetic testing revealed that Star's father was J1 "Ruffles." Due to the fact that Ruffles also sired her mother, Star is 25% inbred.

## Death of Her Mother and Brother

In December of 2015, Polaris was seen with a new calf, J54 "Dipper." Over the next few months, both mother and calf grew more and more emaciated until Polaris disappeared on October 19th. She was presumed to have died earlier that week. Her death essentially doomed Dipper, who was ten months old and still nursing. Star tried hard to take care of her little brother; she was seen multiple times offering him salmon and bringing him up to the surface so he wouldn't drown. Despite her efforts, Dipper passed away later that month.

## Calves

In late October of 2020, Star was announced to be pregnant. In mid-February of 2021 however, she was no longer pregnant and it was concluded that she had lost her pregnancy.

## Galleries

* **Photos** of J46 Star
* **Videos** of J46 Star

## References

1. ↑ 'J-46 Star'
2. ↑ "Orca Network Babies"
3. ↑ "Inbreeding in an Endangered Killer Whale Population"
4. ↑ "Sad Drama in Puget Sound: Another Orca Dies; Hopes Dim for Her Calf"
5. ↑ "Photos Show Pregnant Southern Resident Orca J46 in Puget Sound"
6. ↑ "Pregnant Orca in J Pod Appears to Have Lost Her Baby; Scientists Say"