Sequim has some of the most unique saddle patches among all Southern Residents: both sides are very wispy and also narrow. On the left side in particular, her saddle patch barely extends under her dorsal fin at all!

In addition to her distinct wispy saddle patches, another of Sekiu's identifying features is what we call a "black spine". This refers to the gray saddle patch not extending fully to the line of the back, resulting in black pigment along the spine of the whale when viewed from the side.

Monika has always thought of K33 as a shape-shifting killer whale. He looks so different at different angles that she's mistaken him for almost every other adult whale in the population at some point in time.

A rain shadow occurs on the leeward side of a mountain range, where protection from prevailing winds leads to much drier conditions. K37 Rainshadow's name is a reference to his mom K12 Sequim; Sequim is a town in the rain shadow of the Olympic Mountains, and gets less than half the rain that Seattle does.

The average age a female killer whale gives birth for the first time is 15. As of 2026, Saturna is 16 years old, and we are all very hopeful we will see her with her first calf soon!