September 8th - The T036As, T101A and T101B close to home!

We didn’t have to travel too far to find a group of 6 killer whales on September 8th! Outside of Nanaimo and a little north is a beautiful park called Neck Point. Lined with rocky beaches and treed cliffs, it’s a popular spot for dog walkers and families looking to enjoy a scenic stroll. Little did any of these people know they would also be treated to a whale show from shore!

The T36As are a family pod of 4 whales, led by Matriarch T36A “Leland” who was born in 1990. She has three offspring: “Tierna” a female born in 2005, “Kailas” born in 2012, and “Mike III” born in 2015. The eldest daughter has a very noticeable notch in her dorsal fin, making her the easiest one in the pod to ID.

Two adult bulls were also traveling with the T36As. T101A “Rush”, born in 1993, and brother T101B “Lagoon”, born in 1997. Both of these brothers have HUGE impressive fins and lots of scars in their saddle patches. Seeing these big fins up close definitely takes your breath away!

Here are some of the best photos from Sept 8th, taken by marine naturalist Rebeka Pirker.