Granny (orca) facts for kids
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| Species | Orca (Orcinus orca) |
|---|---|
| Breed | Southern resident orca |
| Sex | Female |
| Born | c. 1950s |
| Died | c. October–December 2016 (aged 65–80) east Pacific Ocean |
| Known for | Long life |
| Residence | Northeast Pacific Ocean, coastal bays of Washington and British Columbia |
| Appearance | Gray "saddle patch" behind dorsal fin; half-moon notch in dorsal fin |
| Named after | Her long life |
Granny (born around 1951, died around 2016), also known as J2, was a famous orca. She was a member of the southern resident killer whale population, which is an endangered group. Granny lived in the northeast Pacific Ocean. She also spent time in the bays near Washington state and British Columbia.
Scientists first thought Granny was born in 1911. This would have made her 105 years old when she died. If that were true, she would have been the oldest known orca ever! However, later studies showed this was a mistake. They now believe she was between 65 and 80 years old. Granny was last seen on October 12, 2016. The Center for Whale Research said she was gone by January 2017.
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What Did Granny Look Like?
Granny was easy to spot in the ocean. She had a gray "saddle patch" behind her dorsal fin. This is a light gray area on her back. She also had a special half-moon shape cut into her dorsal fin.
A whale watcher named Simon Pidcock said he saw Granny thousands of times. He explained that the marks on orca fins are like fingerprints. Each orca has unique markings.
In 1967, Granny and her family group were captured. But Granny was too old to be kept in a marine mammal park. So, she was set free.
Scientists can now tell the exact age of many younger whales. But for older orcas like Granny, it's harder. Their age is guessed by looking at their children. Orcas usually have babies between age 15 and 40. By counting the generations, scientists can guess an orca's age.
In 1971, Granny was photographed with a male orca named J1 Ruffles. People thought he was her son. Ruffles was thought to be at least 20 years old. Scientists believed he was Granny's last baby. So, they guessed Granny was about 60 years old. Later, they found out Ruffles was not her son. But her age guess was never changed. Newer studies suggest Granny was likely 65–80 years old.
Granny's Family: The J Pod
Granny traveled with her family in a group called the J pod. This group has about 25 orcas. The J pod, along with K and L pods, make up the "J clan." This clan is the entire southern resident killer whale population.
These orcas spend their summers in the waters of British Columbia and Washington state. But they can travel far! They roam from southeast Alaska all the way to central California. They have even traveled about 800 miles (1,287 km) in just one week.
As the oldest female in the J pod, Granny was seen as its leader. She helped guide the group.
J1 Ruffles was a well-known male orca. People once thought he was Granny's son. He was last seen in 2010. By 2012, none of Granny's own children were known to be alive. But Granny had many grandchildren and great-grandchildren. They traveled with her in the pod.
The southern resident killer whales are the most studied orcas in the world. Many whales from this group were caught in the 1960s and 1970s. They were used in sea parks. Others were killed by hunters trying to catch them. This group is the smallest of four orca communities in the northeast Pacific Ocean. It is the only orca group listed as endangered by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. Since 2005, this group has been protected under the Endangered Species Act.
Why Was Granny Important?
Granny was the longest-living known orca. Because of her long life, she became an example. People used her story to argue against keeping whales in captivity. They said that captive animals often live shorter lives. For example, the oldest orca in captivity is Corky. She is 56 years old and lives at SeaWorld San Diego. The average lifespan for an orca in captivity is 20 to 30 years.
Granny also helped environmental efforts. Her story led to the Endangered Species Act protecting orcas. Environmentalists believe Granny might have had high levels of pollution in her body. This pollution could have harmed her family's ability to have babies. Also, fewer salmon are found on the West Coast. This is a problem for Granny's family, as salmon are their main food.
Granny was featured in a children's book about orcas. It was written by Sally Hodson and called Granny's Clan: A Tale of Wild Orcas.
After Granny's death was announced, a radio show talked about her. They discussed what scientists learned about killer whales and their social lives by watching Granny and her pod for so long.
Granny is also the subject of a short movie. It is called The Hundred Year Old Whale. Filmmaker Mark Leiren-Young released it in 2017. He also wrote a book called The Killer Whale Who Changed The World.
How Long Do Orcas Live?
How long wild orcas live can be different based on who you ask. SeaWorld says wild female orcas live 30–50 years. They say males live 19–30 years.
However, a 2005 study found different numbers. It said the average age for females was 45.8 years. For males, it was 31.0 years between 1973 and 1996.
Groups that protect marine animals say even these numbers are too low. They believe hunting, pollution, and capture made wild populations live shorter lives. They argue that wild orcas can live as long as humans. They think male orcas can live up to 75 years. Female orcas might live up to 80 years.
Orcas are one of the few animals that go through menopause. Granny's old age meant she could help her family even after she stopped having babies. This idea is called the Grandmother hypothesis. It suggests that older females help their grandchildren survive.
See also
- List of individual cetaceans
