I've been lucky enough to have had thousands of whale encounters around the world over the years. However, there are always a few encounters that you never forget and you remember so clearly as if they happened yesterday. This is one of those encounters with Granny – J2. The 100 year old orca.
It was late August 2016. well, August 19, 2016 to be exact– It had been a long day on the water for me, as I already completed two 3-4 hour expeditions on a 40ft open zodiac with 12 guests on each one. However, regardless of my exhaustion the weather conditions were perfect! there was no wind – flat calm seas and incoming of approximately 30+ Orca entering the Juan De Fuca heading towards Victoria, BC. It sounded like it could be members of our Southern Resident Killer Whales (SRKW). The 3 families within the SRKW are J, K & L Pods. To put it shortly. I WAS PUMPED!
I had 10 eager guests in their safety floatation suits, I had briefed them on boat safety and they were sitting in their seats bursting with anticipation. Honestly, I reckon I was more excited than they were, as I knew what the potential of this evening could be.
After a 30 minute cruise from Victoria into the Juan De Fuca Strait I notice the first blow from about a mile away and start slowing down to a crawl just in case these 2 pods were spread out foraging for their dinner/ Chinook salmon. This population are fish eating killer whales - about 98% of their diet is strictly Chinook salmon.
I scanned the area constantly and notice a few other whale watching vessels a mile or so inshore of me with what I assume are orca from the same Southern Resident population (SRKW). However, I knew there would be more spread out in the region and there is little to NO point going to “join” the other vessels. In my mind there is no point adding to an extra vessel viewing whales – I knew there was quite a few individuals in the area it would just take some time to locate and interact with a separate group.
Side Note – besides focusing on my guests' safety and comfort. My other goal and a priority is to ensure that there is little to no impact on these animals at all times. We are simply there to observe not to interfere. This is always possible to do but the one thing to remember & practice at all times is Patience!!!
It wasn't long until I noticed an individual animal not too far away moving towards our location, approximately a few hundred meters away. I switched off the engines and patiently waited to see what this orca might do. Before i knew the orca took a sharp right hand 90 degree turn and a dark green glow cruised under the vessel with a trail of bubbles following closely behind.
Then out of nowhere BOOM! She came up right beside the vessel, learned on her side in order to get a good look at us. It made me jump as it isn't something you expect these animals to do. She then began to zig-ziag under the vessel from side to side of the vessel blowing a trail of bubbles in what appeared to be a state of play. Back and forth she went rolling onto her side each time she surfaced beside the vessel to make eye contact. After a few more curious zig-zags, she then flicked her large fluke and she was gone as quickly as she arrived. The whole interaction only lasted a 2 minutes tops however time seems irrelevant when you have such a close encounter with an orca.
I realized who this individual was straight away ~ it was no other than J2 aka Granny, herself! The Matriarch of J Pod and the oldest of the Southern Resident population. This orca is estimated to have been born in 1911! She was the strong leader of J pod and had been the matriarch for decades. To have this encounter with THE lady herself made it even more special to me. Still makes me smile to this day when I look back to that evening. I am more than happy with myself for only taking a few photos when she first surfaced and then for the rest of the time just sat back and simply enjoyed this rare and beautiful moment.
It was only a few months later that I heard that Granny was reported missing from J pod and hadn't been seen with the rest of her pod during the last few encounters. This was heartbreaking, when an orca isn't amongst its pod/family then there is a high chance that the animal has died. This news wasn't confirmed by the Centre of Whale Research (CWR) until just after Christmas of 2016.
This sad news was nothing short of heartbreaking to me and all who worked on the Salish Sea. Granny was an icon for the SRKW and her passing affected me for longer than I was expecting. At the end of the day, I consider myself to be beyond lucky though to have had such a rare encounter with this strong lady, one that I will never forget.
Granny surprising everyone onboard including myself in an encounter of a lifetime!
Granny surfacing close to the boat to check us out!!
Granny making eye contact one last time before heading on her way to lead her family to food.
J27 aka Blackberry. Whenever J Pod is in town he is always close by and without a doubt one of my favourite whales to interact with from around the world.
J27 also known as Blackberry passing us by in the Juan De Fuca.
A young male from J Pod surfacing in the Juan De Fuca during a sunset cruise.