A5 pod is a name given to a group of orcas (Orcinus orca) found off the coast of British Columbia, Canada. It is part of the northern resident population of orcas - a name given to the fish-eating orcas found in coastal waters ranging from mid-Vancouver Island up through the Queen Charlotte Islands of British Columbia and into the southeastern portions of Alaska. Jump to: navigation, search Motto: Splendor Sine Occasu (Splendour without diminishment) Other Canadian provinces and territories Capital Victoria Largest city Vancouver Lieutenant-Governor Iona Campagnolo Premier Gordon Campbell (BC Liberal) Area 944,735 km² (5th) • Land 925,186 km² • Water 19,549 km² (2. ... Jump to: navigation, search Binomial name Orcinus orca Linnaeus, 1758 Orca range (in blue) The Orca (Orcinus orca), also known as the Killer Whale or Grampus, is the largest member of the oceanic dolphin family. ... Jump to: navigation, search Located off Canadas Pacific coast and part of the Canadian province of British Columbia Vancouver Island is, at 32,134 square kilometers (12,407 square miles), the largest island on the western side of the Americas. ... The Queen Charlotte Islands or Haida Gwaii are an archipelago off the north-west coast of British Columbia, Canada, consisting of two main islands: Graham Island in the North, and Moresby Island in the south. ... Jump to: navigation, search State nickname: The Last Frontier, The Land of the Midnight Sun Other U.S. States Capital Juneau Largest city Anchorage Governor Frank Murkowski (R) Senators Ted Stevens (R) Lisa Murkowski (R) Official language(s) English Area 663,267 mi² / 1,717,854 km² (1st)  - Land 571...

The orcas of the northern resident community are divided into vocally distinctive clans known as the A clan, the G clan, and the R clan. Members of the A5 pod belong to the A clan.

When studies first began, it was assumed all orcas travelling together were part of the same pod. Initially, males were also thought to lead harems of females and their young. Some pods were named for a distinctive male while others were named for other distinctive individuals.

Over time, studies showed that these congregations of orcas were not all the same pod. Rather, they were matrilines - a mother and her offspring up to the fourth generation. Nonetheless, the pod names remained. Generally, matrilines within a pod frequently socialize with one another, more so than with orcas from another pod.

A5 pod itself was named for a male, A5, also known as Top Notch. He was part of the A9 matriline, of which is mother, A9 (also known as Scar or Eve) was the leader. The A5 pod is currently made up of three matrilines. Unfortunately, that of A9 has died out with her sons, A5 (Top Notch) and A26 (Foster). She had no surviving daughters to carry on her line. A9 washed up on a beach in Johnstone Strait in November 1990, her stomach containing 5 litres of fish bones representing 13 different species.

As a whole, A5 pod was captured several times during the 1970's, in order to take young orcas into aquariums around the world. Almost an entire generation of orcas were taken from different families of the A5 pod.

Currently, only one orca from these captures still survives to this day. She is, in fact, the only surviving member of those from the northern resident community taken into captivity. Her name is Corky 2, and currently she lives at SeaWorld in San Diego, California. From studies of this population, it is known that her mother was A23, also known as Stripe. Unfortunately, A23 died in 2000, at the approximate age of 53 years old. Corky also has a brother, A27 (Okisollo), also deceased. Her family currently consists of a younger sister, A43 (Ripple), a niece, A69 (Midsummer) and younger brother A60 (Fife). Corky (II) is a female orca (also known as a killer whale) from the A5 Pod in British Columbia, Canada. ... For the unrelated theme park in Australia, see Sea World. ... San Diego County in the Southwest corner of California. ... Jump to: navigation, search State nickname: The Golden State Other U.S. States Capital Sacramento Largest city Los Angeles Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) Senators Dianne Feinstein (D) Barbara Boxer (D) Official language(s) English Area 410,000 km² (3rd)  - Land 404,298 km²  - Water 20,047 km² (4. ...

Other notable members of the A5 pod included A14, also known as Saddle. She was easily recognized by her unique saddle patch - a marking behind the dorsal fin. A14's daughter, A25 (Sharky) was also known for having a unique and very distinct pointed dorsal fin. Unfortunately, Saddle died in 1991, around the age of 44, while Sharky died unexpectedly at the age of around 26, in 1997. Sharky's death was a surprise, because her age group has the lowest mortality rate of all age groups.

The A5 pod has suffered many tragedies over the years. Besides losing a generation of whales to captivity, one young whale, A57 (Kelkpa) was found on the 16th of December in 1996 in a bay in BC. She died that day and became the first orca of the population that we knew the cause of death: she died of erysipelas. In 1973, a young whale was hit by a BC ferry. Two older whales supported the young one and helped it to breathe. The whale was sighted 15 days later, with the other two still holding it up, then was never seen again. Most likely, this was the young whale A21, also an A5 pod whale.

Also, on July 27, 2003, a young male, A60 (Fife), Corky2's brother, was injured probably by a boat propeller. By 2004, the injury was well-healed, but left scarring all along his right side.

Currently, the A5 pod consists of 3 matrilines and 9 whales, down from 4 matrilines and 13 whales in 1999. The A8 matriline consists of Havannah (A28), Sonora (A42), Surf (A66), and an unnamed calf, A79. The A23/A43 matriline, Corky2's family, consists of Ripple (A43), Fife (A60), and Midsummer (A69). The A25 matriline consists of Nodales (A51), and Surge (A61).

Books

• Ford, John K.B.; Ellis, Graeme M.; & Balcomb, Kenneth C. (2000). Killer Whales (2nd ed.). UBC Press. ISBN 0-7748-0800-4.
• Hoyt, Erich. (1990). Orca: The Whale Called Killer (3rd ed.). London: Robert Hale Limited. ISBN 0-920656-25-0.