Northern Resident Population Timeline

The start of the study for each pod was defined as the first year in which all members of the pod were identified. 1973 for A1, A4, A5, B1, C1, and D1 pods. 1974 for J1, K1, L1 (Southern residents). 1975 for G1, G12, H1, I1, I2, I11, I18, and R1, and 1979 for W1.

## 1927

### Births

* **A1 "Stubbs"** ♀ (A1 pod) - estimated to have been born in 1927, with minimum estimates ranging to 1934.
* **A7** ♀ (A1 pod) - estimated to have been born in 1927.

## 1930

### Births

* **A2 "Nicola"** ♀ (A1 pod) - estimated to have been born in 1930, with earlier estimates placed her birth year anywhere between 1927-1934.

## 1942

### Births

* **A9 "Eve"** ♀ (A5 pod).
* **A10** ♀ (A4 pod) - original estimates put her birth year within 1941-1944, but recent catalogues place her birth year as 1942.

## 1948

### Births

* **A14 "Saddle"** ♀ (A5 pod).
* **A23 "Stripe"** ♀ to presumed A7 (A5 pod) - original estimates put her birth year within 1947-1949, but recent catalogues recognize 1948.

## 1949

### Births

* **A36 "Sophia"** ♀ to presumed A1 "Stubbs" (A1 pod) - original estimates put her birth year within 1947-1949, but the 2015 ID catalogue lists 1949.
* **A30 "Tsitika"** ♀ to presumed A2 "Nicola" (A1 pod).

## 1953

### Births

* **A20 "Hardy"** ♂ to presumed A1 "Stubbs" (A1 pod).

## 1954

### Births

* **A3 "Wavy"** ♂ to presumed A2 "Nicola" (A1 pod) - original estimates put his birth year in 1952, but recent catalogues recognize 1954.

## 1959

### Births

* **A11 "Yakat"** ♀ to presumed A10 (A4 pod).
* **A8 "Licka"** ♀ to presumed A9 "Eve" (A5 pod).

## 1960

### Births

* **A5 "Top Notch"** ♂ to presumed A9 "Eve" (A5 pod).
* **A31 "Pulteney"** ♂ to presumed A12 "Scimitar" (A1 pod).

## 1964

### Births

* **A16 "Corky II"** ♀ to presumed A23 "Stripe" (A5 pod).
* **A17 "Kenny"** ♂ to presumed A14 "Saddle" (A5 pod).

## 1965

### Births

* **A32 "Cracroft"** ♂ to presumed A36 "Sophia" (A1 pod).
* **A6 "Strider"** ♂ to presumed A30 "Tsitika" (A1 pod).

### Captures

* **C11 "Namu"** ♂ (age ~19) and **C5 "Juliet"** (age ~1) (C1 pod) - captured accidentally in Warrior Cove, British Columbia. C15 "Juliet" managed to escape the ordeal, but C11 "Namu" remained entangled and was subsequently bought for public display.

## 1967

### Births

* **A21** to presumed A23 "Stripe" (A1 pod).
* **A24 "Kelsey"** ♀ to presumed A10 (A4 pod).

### Captures

* **Orky** ♂, age ~4 (I11 pod) - accidentally trapped in a salmon net and was purchased by Marineland of the Pacific for public display. Orky was later identified to have been a member of the I11 Pod.

## 1968

### Captures

* **Hyak** ♂, age ~8 - alongside two others, was coralled into Garden Bay, British Columbia by fishermen. He was kept in a sea pen before he either escaped or was set free the following year.
* **Bonnie** ♀, **Kianu** ♀, **Natsidalia** ♀, **Hyak II** ♂, **Irving** ♂, **Orky II** ♂, and **Corky** ♀, (believed to have been A5 pod) - captured again in Garden Bay, British Columbia. Bonnie and Kianu were sold to Marine World. Natsidalia, Hyakk II, and Irving remained in the seapen, and Orky II and Corky were sold and moved to Marineland of the Pacific.
* **Tula** ♂, age ~3 - a local fishermen caught nine killer whales in Queen Charlotte Strait, British Columbia and of those caught eight managed to escape but one remained stuck and was subsequently bought.

## 1969

### Births

* **A18 "Patches"** ♀ to presumed A14 "Saddle" (A5 pod).

### Captures

* **A16 "Corky II"** ♀, **A17 "Kenny"** ♂, **A18 "Patches"** ♀, **Yaka** ♀, **Nepo** ♂, and **Calypso** ♀, (A5 pod) - on December 11, 10-13 A5 Pod members were caught in Pender Harbor, however in the following days a male killer whale managed to escape. Six were kept due to their size and age which made them desirable for Marine parks, whilst the other four were let go as they were too large to profit from. Three of the young whales were sold to Marineland of the Pacific. Two were moved to Marine World on December 28. The last youngster was eventually moved to Marineland Antibes in June 1970, but was temporarily held at the Seattle Marine Aquarium and also Cleethorpes Marineland and Zoo.

## 1971

### Births

* **A33 "Nimpkish"** ♂ to presumed A12 "Scimitar" (A1 pod).
* **A38 "Blackney"** ♂ to presumed A30 "Tsitika" (A1 pod).

## 1972

### Births

* **A27 "Okisollo" ♂ to presumed A23 "Stripe" (A1 pod).**
* **A25 "Sharky" ♀ to presumed A14 "Saddle" (A5 pod).**
* **A26 "Foster" ♂ to presumed A9 "Eve" (A5 pod).**

## 1973

### Births

* **A44** ♀ to A36 "Sophia" (A1 pod).
* **A19** to A10 (A4 pod).

### Deaths

* **A19**, age <1 (A4 pod).
* **A21**, age ~6 (A5 pod).

## 1974

### Births

* **A35 "Skagit"** ♀ to A11 "Yakat" (A4 pod).
* **A28 "Havannah"** ♀ to A8 "Licka" (A5 pod).

### Deaths

* **A1 "Stubbs"** ♀, age ~47 (A1 pod) - last sighted in 1973 and was failed to be resighted with subsequent sightings of A1 pod in 1974.

## 1975

### Births

* **A34 "Simoom"** ♀ to A12 "Scimitar" (A1 pod).
* **A39 "Pointer"** ♂ to A30 "Tsitika" (A1 pod).

## 1977

### Births

* **A29** to A23 "Stripe" (A1 pod).
* **A37 "Plumper"** ♂ to A36 "Sophia".

## 1978

### Births

* **A13 "Skeena"** ♂ to A11 "Yakat" (A4 pod).

## 1980

### Births

* **A42 Sonora** ♀ to A8 "Licka" (A6 pod).

## 1981

### Births

* **A41** to A24 "Kelsey" (A4 pod).
* **A40** to A30 "Tsitika" (A1 pod).
* **A43 "Ripple"** ♀ to A23 "Stripe" (A5 pod).

## 1982

### Births

* **A46 "Kaikash"** ♂ to A36 "Sophia" (A1 pod).

## 1983

### Births

* **A47** to A10 (A4 pod).
* **A45 "Sutlej"** ♀ to A24 "Kelsey" (A4 pod).
* **A48 "Siwiti"** ♀ to A11 "Yakat" (A4 pod).

### Deaths

* **A10** ♀, age ~41 (A4 pod) - reported to have been shot by boaters whilst visiting the rubbing beaches at Robson Bight with the rest of A4 pod. A10 and her young calf, A47, were not sighted following the incident and were suspected to have succumb to the sustained injuries.
* **A47** age <1 (A4 pod) - shot by boaters whilst visiting the rubbing beaches at Robson Bight with the rest of A4 pod.
* **A40** age 2 (A1 pod).

## 1984

### Births

* **A50 "Clio"** ♀ to A30 "Tsitka" (A1 pod).

## 1986

### Births

* **A51 "Nodales"** ♀ to A25 "Sharky" (A5 pod).

## 1987

### Births

* **A52 "Kiltik"** ♀ to A35 "Skagit" (A4 pod).

## 1988

### Births

* **A53 "Scylla"** ♀ to A24 "Kelsey" (A4 pod).

## 1989

### Births

* **A54 "Blinkhorn"** ♀ to A30 "Tsitka" (A1 pod).

## 1990

### Births

* **A55 "Echo"** ♂ to A34 "Simoom" (A1 pod).
* **A56 "Nahwitti"** ♀ to A11 "Yakat" (A4 pod).

## 1991

### Births

* **A57 "Kelkpa"** ♀ to A42 "Sonora" (A5 pod).

### Deaths

* **A14 "Saddle"** ♀, age ~43 (A5 pod).
* **A15** ♂, age 12 (A5 pod).

## 1992

### Births

* **A59 "Racey"** ♀ to A35 "Skagit" (A4 pod).
* **A60 "Fife"** ♂ to A23 "Stripe" (A5 pod).

### Deaths

* **A20 "Hardy"** ♂, age ~39 (A1 pod) - last sighted in 1992, and subsequentially was listed with a marker denoting he was still missing in 1993.
* **A53 "Scylla"** ♀, age 4 (A4 pod).

## 1994

### Births

* **A62 "Misty"** ♀ to A34 "Simoom" (A1 pod).
* **A61 "Surge"** ♂ to A25 "Sharky" (A5 pod).

## 1995

### Births

* **A63** to A43 "Ripple" (A5 pod).
* **A64 "Schooner"** ♀ to A24 "Kelsey" (A4 pod).

## 1996

### Births

* **A65** to A48 "Siwiti" (A4 pod).
* **A66 "Surf"** ♂ to A42 "Sonora" (A5 pod).
* **A69 "Midsummer"** ♀ to A43 "Ripple" (A5 pod).

### Deaths

* **A48 "Siwiti"** ♀, age 13 (A4 pod).
* **A57 "Kelkpa"** ♀, age 5 (A5 pod).
* **A65**, age <1 (A4 pod).

## 1997

### Births

* **A67 "Eclipse"** ♀ to A34 Simoom (A1 pod).
* **A68** to A45 "Sutlej" A4 pod).

### Deaths

* **A36 "Sophia"** ♀, age ~50 (A1 pod).
* **A31 "Pulteney"** ♂, age 37 (A1 pod).
* **A25 "Sharky"** ♀, age 25 (A5 pod).
* **A68**, age <1 (A4 pod).

## 1999

### Births

* **A72 "Bend"** ♀ to A50 "Clio" (A1 pod).
* **A71 "Magin"** ♂ to A24 "Kelsey" (A4 pod).
* **A70 "Sunny"** ♀ to A35 "Skagit" (A4 pod).

## 2000

### Births

* **A74 "Stormy"** to A34 "Simoom" (A1 pod).
* **A73 "Springer"** t0 A45 "Sutlej" (A4 pod).

### Deaths

* **A23 "Stripe"** ♀, age ~52 (A5 pod) - reported deceased by *The Blackfish Sounder*.
* **A5 "Top Notch"** ♂, age 40 (A5 pod).

## 2001

### Deaths

* **A8 "Licka"** ♀, age ~42 (A5 pod).
* **A26 "Foster"** ♂, age 29 (A5 pod).
* **A27 "Okisollo"** ♂, age 29 (A5 pod).
* **A45 "Sutlej"** ♀, age 18 (A4 pod).

## 2002

### Births

* **A75 "Cedar"** ♀ to A54 "Blinkhorn" (A1 pod).
* **A76** to A53 "Kiltik" (A4 pod).

### Captures

* **A73 "Springer"** - after becoming separated from her family, the A4 pod, A73 "Springer" was found in Puget Sound, and subsequently caputred to attempt to reintroduce her back into her native waters. She was officially captured June 13th, 2003 and was treated to ensure a healthy return to the wild. In doing so, minimal human contact was made to ensure she wouldn't associate humans with food. Springer was released back to her home water on July 14th the same year.

## 2003

### Births

* **A77 "Roller"** ♂ to A35 "Skagit" (A4 pod).
* **A78 "Toba"** ♂ to A24 "Kelsey" (A4 pod).

## 2004

### Births

* **A80 "Hope"** ♂ to A34 "Simoom" (A1 pod).
* **A82 "Canoona"** to A59 "Racey" (A4 pod).
* **A81 "Nalau"** ♂ to A52 "Kiltik" (A4 pod).
* **A79 "Current"** ♀ to A42 "Sonora" (A5 pod).

## 2005

### Births

* **A83 "Dusky"** ♂ to A62 "Misty" (A1 pod).
* **A84 "Klaotisis"** ♂ to A50 "Clio" (A1 pod).
* **A85 "Cordero"** ♀ to A51 "Nodales" (A5 pod).

## 2006

### Births

* **A86 "Cutter"** ♀ to A54 "Blinkhorn" (A1 pod).

### Deaths

* **A59 "Racey"** ♀, age 14 (A4 pod).
* **A74 "Stormy"**, age 6 (A1 pod).
* **A82 "Canoona"**, age 2 (A4 pod).

## 2008

### Births

* **A89 "Kanish"** to A64 "Schooner" (A4 pod).
* **A90 "Pine"** ♀ to A35 "Skagit" (A4 pod).
* **A88 "Cameleon"** to A42 "Sonora" (A5 pod).

## 2009

### Births

* **A92 "Sunday"** to A67 "Eclipse" (A1 pod).
* **A93 "Cypress"** to A54 "Blinkhorn" (A1 pod).
* **A91 "Fantome"** ♀ to A62 "Misty" (A1 pod).
* **A94 "Mystery"** ♂ to A24 "Kelsey" (A4 pod).
* **A95 "Fern"** ♂ to A69 "Kelsey" (A5 pod).

## 2010

### Births

* **A96 "Rainy"** ♀ to A34 "Simoom" (A1 pod).
* **A97 "Kalect"** to A56 "Nahwitti" (A4 pod).
* **A98** to A51 "Nodales" (A5 pod).

### Deaths

* **A32 "Cracroft"** ♂, age ~45 (A1 pod).
* **A13 "Skeena"**, age 32 (A4 pod).

## 2011

### Births

* **A99 "Alder"** ♂ to A50 "Clio" (A1 pod).
* **A100 "Kwatna"** to A70 "Sunny" (A4 pod).

### Deaths

* **A51 "Nodales"** ♀, age 25 (A5 pod).
* **A98**, age 1 (A5 pod).

## 2012

### Births

* **A101 "Kamux"** ♀ to A75 "Cedar" (A1 pod).
* **A102 "Tuzo"** ♂ to A67 "Eclipse" (A1 pod).

### Deaths

* **A12 "Scimitar"** ♀, age ~69 (A1 pod).
* **A28 "Havannah"** ♀, age 38 (A5 pod).
* **A92 "Sunday"**, age 3 (A1 pod).

## 2013

### Births

* **A106 "Nowell"** ♂ to A54 "Blinkhorn" (A1 pod).
* **A107 "Blunden"** ♂ to A62 "Misty" (A1 pod).
* **A104 "Spirit"** to A73 "Springer" (A4 pod).
* **A105 "Stirling"** to A53 "Kiltik" (A4 pod).
* **A103 "Ablion"** to A42 "Sonora" (A5 pod).

### Deaths

* **A30 "Tsitka"** ♀, age 64 (A1 pod).
* **A11 "Yakat"** ♀, age 54 (A4 pod).
* **A24 "Kelsey"** ♀, age 46 (A4 pod).

## 2014

### Births

* **A108 "Jamison"** ♂ to A72 "Bend" (A1 pod).
* **A109 "Eliot"** ♀ to A69 "Midsummer" (A5 pod).

### Deaths

* **A39 "Pointer"** ♂, age 39 (A1 pod).
* **A37 "Plumper"** ♂, age 37 (A1 pod).
* **A93 "Cypress"**, age 4 (A1 pod).
* **A97 "Kalect"**, age 4 (A4 pod).

## 2015

### Births

* **A110 "Barkley"** ♂ to A64 "Schooner" (A4 pod).

## 2016

### Births

* **A112 "Barlow"** ♂ to A67 "Eclipse"
* **A113 "Perring"** ♀ to A75 "Cedar" (A1 pod).
* **A111 "Denny"** to A70 "Sunny" (A4 pod).

## 2017

### Births

* **A117 "Blyth"** to A35 "Skagit" (A4 pod).
* **A114 "Ashlar"** ♀ to A42 "Sonora" (A5 pod).
* **A116 "Storm"** to A73 "Springer" (A4 pod).
* **A115** to A50 "Clio" (A1 pod).

## 2018

### Births

* **A119 "Venture"** ♂ to A79 "Current" (A5 pod).
* **A118 "Berry"** ♀ to A54 Blinkhorn (A1 pod).

### Deaths

* **A71 "Magin"** ♂, age 19 (A4 pod).
* **A115**, age >1 year (A1 pod).

## 2019

### Births

* **A121 "Twilight"** ♂ to A85 Cordero (A5 pod).
* **A120 "Kaizumi"** ♂ to A86 Cutter (A1 pod).

## 2020

### Births

* **A122 "Kwakume"** to A52 "Kiltik" (A4 pod).
* **A123** to A50 "Clio" (A1 pod).
* **A124 "Nonooa"** to A64 "Schooner" (A4 pod).
* **A125 "Seabrook"** to A67 "Eclipse" (A1 pod).
* **B20** to B14 "Klakish" (B1 pod).
* **C37** to C23 "Fin" (C1 pod).
* **H18** to H18 (H1 pod).
* **I164** to I51 "Magee" (I11 pod).
* **I165** to I65 "Spout" (I11 pod).
* **I166** to I110 (I31 pod).
* **I169** to I90 (I1 pod).
* **R77** to R52 (R1 pod).

### Deaths

* **I26** ♀, age 45 (I18 pod) - confirmed deceased.
* **I42 Skuna** ♂, age 37 (I11 pod) - confirmed deceased.

## 2021

### Births

* **A126 "Ne'nakw"** to A69 "Midsummer" (A5 pod).
* **A127** to A75 "Cedar" (A1 pod).
* **A128** to A70 "Sunny" (A4 pod).
* **A129** ♀ to A90 "Pine" (A4 pod).

### Deaths

* **I117** ♂, age 17 (I1 pod) - confirmed deceased.
* **G3** ♀, (age 63) (G1 pod) - confirmed deceased.

* I117 and G3 are confirmed dead
* C32, I53 and I141 are missing
* Newly documented calves include A126, A127, A128, A129, D33, D34, G119, G120, G121, R78 and R79 (born in 2021), and I168 (born in 2020).

## References

1. ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 1.13 1.14 1.15 1.16 1.17 Michael A. Bigg et al., "Social Organization and Genealogy of Resident Killer Whales (Orcinus orca) in the Coastal Waters of British Columbia and Washington State", in Rep. Int. Whal. Commn. (Special Issue 12), ed. Phillip S. Hammond, Sally A. Mizroch, and Gregory P. Donovan (Cambridge, UK: IWC, 1990), 383-405.
2. ↑ 2.000 2.001 2.002 2.003 2.004 2.005 2.006 2.007 2.008 2.009 2.010 2.011 2.012 2.013 2.014 2.015 2.016 2.017 2.018 2.019 2.020 2.021 2.022 2.023 2.024 2.025 2.026 2.027 2.028 2.029 2.030 2.031 2.032 2.033 2.034 2.035 2.036 2.037 2.038 2.039 2.040 2.041 2.042 2.043 2.044 2.045 2.046 2.047 2.048 2.049 2.050 2.051 2.052 2.053 2.054 2.055 2.056 2.057 2.058 2.059 2.060 2.061 2.062 2.063 2.064 2.065 2.066 2.067 2.068 2.069 2.070 2.071 2.072 2.073 2.074 2.075 2.076 2.077 2.078 2.079 2.080 2.081 2.082 2.083 2.084 2.085 2.086 2.087 2.088 2.089 2.090 2.091 2.092 2.093 2.094 2.095 2.096 2.097 2.098 2.099 2.100 2.101 2.102 2.103 2.104 2.105 2.106 2.107 2.108 2.109 2.110 2.111 2.112 Towers, J. R. (2020). Photo-identification catalogue and status of the northern resident killer whale population in 2019 / by Jared R. Towers, James F. Pilkington, Brian Gisborne, Brianna M. Wright, Graeme M. Ellis, John K. B. Ford, and Thomas Doniol-Valcroze. Government of Canada. https://science-catalogue.canada.ca/record=b4087701%7ES6
3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Photo-identification catalogue and status of the northern resident killer whale population in 2014 / by J.R. Towers, G.M. Ellis, and J.K.B. Ford, Pacific Region, Science Branch
4. ↑ Ellis, G. M., Ford, J. K. B., & Towers, J. R. (2007). Northern Resident Killer Whales in British Columbia Photo-Identification Catalogue 2007.
5. ↑ Era of the Orca Cowboys
6. ↑ One Whale Of A Set
7. ↑ Olesiuk, P. O., Ford, J. K. B. F., & Ellis, G. M. E. (2005). Life History and Population Dynamics of Northern Resident Killer Whales (Orcinus orca) in British Columbia. ResearchGate. Life History and Population Dynamics of Northern Resident Killer Whales (Orcinus orca) in British Columbia
8. ↑ Whale Freed by Vandals
9. ↑ First Killer Whale Stillborn
10. ↑ Whale turns event into big splash
11. ↑ The story of Tula
12. ↑ Bull Killer Whale Escapes
13. ↑ Corky's Capture
14. ↑ B.C Whale Lift Planned
15. ↑ Killer Whale Flies To London In Own Iced, Soaked Hammock
16. ↑ 16.00 16.01 16.02 16.03 16.04 16.05 16.06 16.07 16.08 16.09 16.10 Ford, J. K. B., Ellis, G. M., & Balcomb, K. C. (2000). Killer Whales: The Natural History and Genealogy of Orcinus Orca in British Columbia and Washington State (Updated Edition) (Updated 2nd ed.). Univ of Washington Pr.
17. ↑ Hoyt, E. (2019). Orca: The Whale Called Killer (Fifth Edition, Revised and Expanded ed.). Firefly Books.
18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 18.2 Morton, A. (2004). Listening to Whales: What the Orcas Have Taught Us (Reprint ed.). Ballantine Books.
19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 19.2 19.3 Ford, J. K. B., Ellis, G. M., & Balcomb, K. C. (1994). Killer Whales: The Natural History and Genealogy of Orcinus Orca in British Columbia and Washington State (1st ed.). Univ of British Columbia Pr.
20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 20.2 20.3 20.4 Northern Resident Orca Population. (2019, July 29). A36s died out. . . [Facebook post]. Facebook. https://www.facebook.com/nrkwtracking/posts/a36s-died-outthe-6-feet-tall-fins-of-the-three-brothers-sliced-through-the-water/1394198290731255/
21. ↑ Vancouver Aquarium, *The Blackfish Sounder*, no. 9, 2001.
22. ↑ Springer's Rescue
23. ↑ Killer Whales of B.C. Facebook
24. ↑ Prince of Whales Whale Watching Facebook
25. ↑ 25.00 25.01 25.02 25.03 25.04 25.05 25.06 25.07 25.08 25.09 25.10 25.11 25.12 25.13 25.14 NRKW Photo-ID app
26. ↑ Ducklow, Z. (2021, January 9). First orca baby of the year in B.C. named Ne’nakw. North Island Gazette. https://www.northislandgazette.com/news/first-orca-baby-of-the-year-in-b-c-named-nenakw/?fbclid=IwAR2EFUYbYPHud\_IW1U99bZeTHEb2\_e3hqt7SPU5sPKG4iduhrFRnZWHEClc
27. ↑ Killer Whales of B.C. Facebook page
28. ↑ Whale Point's Instagram page