T086As - A toothless grin

T086A Eider ♀(1988)

Eider is the matriarch of the T86A family and has 4 living calves. Eider is best known for her somewhat toothless grin as she is missing her bottom front teeth and is unable to fully close her mouth. It’s probable that at some point Eider had a broken jaw. Despite her injury, she has not only managed to survive but thrive! Eider is named after an Island in Glacier Bay. Eider’s mother T086 was killed in a “catastrophic propeller” incident and is a good reminder why maintaining a healthy distance is so important for the whales. (Photo by Aly Kohlman)

T086A Tyndall ♀(2011)

Tyndall is Eider’s 3rd calf. In 2024, Tyndall had her first known calf Tenakee. Around this time both her mother and older sister had also had new calves and Tyndall dispersed from Eider at the time. She spent the summer months hanging out with 2 other young whales from the T071B matriline which is a family that the T086A matriline is regularly known to associate with. Unfortunately, in the spring, Tyndall returned without Tenakee and this likely means the calf did not survive. Since then, Tyndall has been travelling on and off with her Eider. (Photo by Aly Kohlman)

T086A4 Akia ♀(2011)

Akia is Eider’s 4th calf. Her name is associated with strength and resilience. (Photo by Aly Kohlman)

T086A5 Siku
♂(2024)

Siku is Eider’s youngest calf and her only son. The name Siku is an Inuit word for sea ice because his eyepatch resembles chunks of pack ice.

Photo by Beca Piker