Wednesday, May 21, 2008

A28 has a new calf


21 May 2008, Cetaceanlab reports

Since the early 1990s, researchers and whale enthusiasts alike were waiting for A28 to have a calf.Born in 1974, she is a member of the A8 matriline. After her mothers death she continues to travel with her sister A42 and her offsprings. Year after year when the whales would return to Johnstone Strait she would not return with a calf of her own and people started to believe that she would not be able to be a mother herself, instead always being an auntie to her sisters offspring. Until Now! The A42s are in our area since a few weeks, circumnavigating Gil Island a few times. Most of the time we were only able to see them from a distance or just listened to their calls at night.We did however manage to see a brand new calf within the group, but could not tell who it belongs to.Two days ago, we did see them again, this time we were able to get pictures of them and to our amazement and delight we realized that the new born calf belongs to no other then A28!!!It is hard to describe what makes us bond to and care about these whales but as we were watching A28 with her calf, tears of joy were slowly running down our cheaks. We saw the new calf for the first time when the A42s were in Taylor Bight passing Cetacealab and therefore we decided to name the little special guy, Taylor.
Although there are many obsticals for little Taylor to overcome in the near future and we are not the ones to give official names to newborn whales. This one is very special to us and deserves a name right away.