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Photos submitted May 6, 2007
lead us to believe J42 is female
These photographs taken May 6, 2007, off Freshwater Bay (west of Port Angeles, WA) lead staff at the Center for Whale Research to believe that J42 is a female. Based on the distinctive markings on the underside of the belly of this young calf, Center staff have concluded that the animal in these photos is a female. Gender of young Orca whales can be determined by the shape of the white patch and markings in the genital region (see diagram).
According to the photographer Derek Sterling, these photos were taken at 5:22 p.m. May 6, 2007, approximately 2 miles north (offshore) of Freshwater Bay. "The baby was very frisky," says Sterling, "at one point mom (J16) was throwing it up in the air off it's nose."
Look closely at the photo above: To the right of the calf's white flank patch and just below her pectoral fin is a tiny remnant of the calf's umbilical cord draped down the baby's belly. Just like with human infants and other mammal babies, an umbilical cord can take several days, to more than a week, to completely fall off.
In the photo above, the calf's genital area and mammary slits are clearly visible, allowing positive identification of the gender of this young whale.
Photos submitted by Derek Sterling.
To submit your best Killer whale photos,
email: webmaster@whaleresearch.com
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