T019s - An intrepid family

T019
Nootka ♀(≤1965)

Nootka is the matriarch of the T019 matriline, which consists of her and her two living sons. She is considered an expert hunter and specializes in hunting other whale species. While she is well known for her fast and efficient porpoise hunts, her family has also been documented hunting Pacific white-sided dolphins and even successfully taking down several minke whales.

Nootka was already an adult female when she was first observed and was originally designated as O12 of O-Pod in the first killer whale catalogue in 1987. She is named after Nootka Sound but also goes by the name Mooyah. (Photo by Aly Kohlman)

T019B Galiano
♂(1995)

Galiano is the oldest living calf of Nootka. His large dorsal fin has a noticeable bend and leans to the left. This distinct feature often makes him one of the first orcas people can identify in the Salish Sea. He is known to be a charismatic whale and is often considered a fan favourite. Galiano is the ultimate mama’s boy and is rarely far from Nootka. (Photo by Aly Kohlman)

T019C Spouter
♂(2001)

Spouter is the youngest member of the T019 matriline. In contrast to his brothers’ bent dorsal fins, Spouter is known for his tall, straight dorsal fin. Prior to August 2024, Spouter was never far from his presumed grandmother T018 Esperanza. In the last few years of Esperanza’s life, the family was known to split into two pairs, with Spouter and Esperanza in one group, and Nootka and Galiano in the other. Since Esperanza’s disappearance, Spouter has consistently remained with his mother and brother. (Photo by Vanessa Vereschahen)

Photo by Vanessa Vereschahen