J50 Scarlet

## Scarlet

J50 "Scarlet" spyhopping. Photo provided by Ocean EcoVentures Whale Watching - Cowichan Bay & Parksville B.C..

## Family

### Half-Siblings

**J26 "Mike"**, *L95 “Nigel”*, ***J33 "Keet"***, *J34 “Doublestuf”*, J35 "Tahlequah", K33 ”Tika”, J37 “Hy’Shqa”, K34 “Cali”, *L100 “Indigo”*, *L101 “Aurora”*, K35 “Sonata”, K36 “Yoda”, J40 “Suttles”, L106 “Pooka”, **J42 "Echo"**, K42 “Kelp”, J44 "Moby", J45 “Se-Yi’-Chn”, *L112 “Sooke"*, L116 “Finn”, L117 “Keta”, ***J48 "Saiph"***, *J28 Polaris’ Calf (2013)*, J53 "Kiki"

### Aunts & Uncles

***J3 "Merlin"***, *L10 "Okum"*, *L42 "Mozart"*, *L64 "Radar"*, L77 "Matia", L94 "Calypso"

### Nieces & Nephews

J42 "Echo", J47 "Notch", L118 "Jade", J49 "Tilem l’nges", ***J52 "Sonic"***, *J35 Tahlequah's Calf (2018)*, J57 "Phoenix", J59 "Sxwyeqólh"

### Cousins

L113 "Cousteau", *L114 Capella*, L119 "Joy", L121 "Windsong", L124 "Whistle", L126 "Ken", L127 "Scuba"

J50 "Scarlet" (*pronounced SKAAR-luht*) was a 3-year-old female Southern resident killer whale. She became famous after a widely publicized effort to save her when her health began failing was launched. Scarlet's final sighting occurred in September of 2018.

## Early Life

Scarlet was first seen with her mother, J16 "Slick," on December 30th in Swanson Channel off of South Pender Island. She was estimated to be just a few days old. Genetic testing revealed that her father was L41 "Mega." Initially, it was believed that Scarlet's mother was actually J36 "Alki," Slick's daughter. Because Alki was not seen with her family when Scarlet was first seen, a hypothesis was developed that Alki had perished in a difficult birth and Slick was taking care of her calf. However, Alki was later seen alive several miles away. Researchers still had doubts as to whether Slick was Scarlet's mother, due to her being at the end of her reproductive lifespan and Scarlet not seeming as close to Slick. It was then speculated that Alki was still Scarlet's mother and she was just resting while Slick took care of her baby. Eventually, it became clear that Slick was Scarlet's mother, not Alki. This made Slick the oldest known female in the population to give birth. On January 7th, 2015, Scarlet was confirmed to be a female.

Scarlet was named for the rake marks or "scars" seen on her body shortly after her birth. It was speculated that she gained these rakes during a difficult birth in which she was pulled out by another whale's teeth.

## Ill Health and Rescue Attempts

As early as September of 2017, Scarlet was documented in poor body condition. By mid 2018, her condition had declined even further. Scarlet became extremely skinny and had severe "peanut head", a condition in which the fat around the neck and skull is reduced, indicating malnutrition and emaciation. As her condition worsened, a debate began which discussed what should be done to help Scarlet, and whether or not to go forward with such an operation. Eventually, it was decided that, beginning in August of 2018, the NOAA would attempt to administer antibiotics to Scarlet for a possible infection that might be causing her poor health and, collaborating with the Lummi Nation, attempt to feed her fresh Chinook salmon.  The antibiotics would be administered through food, or possibly injection with a pole if they could get close enough.

Scarlet received her first antibiotics on August 9th, 2018 after scientists were able to get close enough to dart her. A breath sample was also obtained, to be analyzed to determine what steps should be taken next.

The option of capturing Scarlet was considered, but only in extreme circumstances. The NOAA stated that they wouldn't take Scarlet into human care unless she stranded alive, or became completely separated from her family and J Pod.

In late August and early September, Scarlet was seen lagging far behind her family multiple times. Results from fecal samples indicated that she was possibly suffering from parasitic worms, so efforts were focused on getting Scarlet dewormer. She was also administered with more antibiotics via dart on September 3rd.

## Death

Scarlet was last seen on the evening of September 7th, 2018. After several days of searching for her and seeing her family without her, Scarlet was officially declared deceased on September 13th.

## Galleries

* **Photos** of J50 Scarlet
* **Videos** of J50 Scarlet

## References

1. ↑ 'Orca Calf Born to Endangered Southern Resident Pod'
2. ↑ 'Who's Whose Father?'
3. ↑ 'Orca Conservancy Update on J16, J50, and now J36...'
4. ↑ 'Orca Baby Not Traveling With Mother, Scientists Believe'
5. ↑ 'Congratulations Slick!'
6. ↑ 'It's a Girl! Biologists Confirm Rare New Orca Calf is Female'
7. ↑ 'Young Southern Resident Scarlet (J50) Missing, Presumed Dead'
8. ↑ '"Skinny Whales Around the World"': Is Intervention for J50 Too Little, Too Late?'
9. ↑ 'Lummi Tribe Teams With NOAA to Save Sick Orca'
10. ↑ 'Sick Orca Known as J50 Has Received Antibiotics, Still Low Chance of Survival'
11. ↑ 'Southern Resident Killer Whale: Questions and Answers on J50 Emergency Response'
12. ↑ 'Updates on the Sick Orca Calf J50 (Scarlet)'
13. ↑ '"She's Dead": Scientists Say Struggling Southern Resident Orca J50 Deceased'