T63, T65, T65A3 & T137A in San Juan Channel

A unique quartet of whales made their way down San Juan Channel this morning:

T63 Chainsaw

T65 Whidbey

T65A3 Amir

T137A Jack

It was an impressive sight to see one of the oldest living Bigg's killer whale females traveling with three adult males!

Amir, who had his uncle and grandmother in the group, was the first to break off. Later on, Jack broke off, too. We find these type of social associations - whether or brief like today or longer term - endlessly fascinating. For example, when they were all four together, we saw T137A, the only unrelated whale present, traveling in closest proximity to T65, the post-reproductive female. What could the relationship be like between the two of them?