Nakwakto (B12)

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Origin of Name=?

Photos of Nakwakto

Above; Nakwakto's current ID photo, from Killer Whales by John Ford, Graeme Ellis, and Kenneth Balcomb.

Bare Facts: Male ~ Born 1984 ~ Died 2006 ~ Mother Scarlett ~ Father Unknown ~ Children Unknown ~ ID Fin tip curling to the right

Nakwakto was born in 1984, to Scarlett. When he was born, his family consisted of his mom, his great-uncle Baronet, his uncles Hooker, B5 and Bauza, and his two older brothers, Izumi and Slingsby. Nakwakto lost his uncle B5, however, just a year after he was born.
Nakwakto was identified as a male before he reached maturity (indeed, before he reached the age of 10), though this came as no surprise to researchers who were noticing the high amount of males in his pod.
Perhaps because of the high amount of males, the Bs traveled by themselves more than with other pods. Nakwakto, therefore, didn't have as many opportunities to play with other pods' calves, as other whales. His family, however, was enough to keep him entertained. Izumi was 20 years older than him, but Slingsby was only five years older, and the two spent lots of time together. This was especially true, since neither were old enough to play with the fully grown males in their rough play.
Slingsby and Nakwakto gained another playmate when Scarlett gave birth again, in 1987, to her third son, Yuculta.
For four years, the three boys played together, although Slingsby was beginning to mature. Then in 1991, they got a sister, Klaskish, to join them. Four years later, their last sibling, Raven, arrived.
By the time Raven was born, Baronet and Bauza had passed away, and Slingsby had matured, spending time playing with Izumi and Hooker. Nakwakto was nearing sprouting time as well.
Nakwakto sprouted rapidly when he matured, his fin soon rivaling his older brothers'. By 1999, the four eldest children had all sprouted, and with Hooker's death, this left the four of them as the gang of guys.
While Klaskish and Raven stuck closer to mom, the four boys had loads of fun playing together. Sadly, 2002 brought Izumi's death.
The three guys still spend a lot of time together, and recently they were recorded by OrcaLab, doggedly persuing the females of A5-Pod.
Although his brothers' fins have started to twist, lean and wrinkle, Nakwakto's fin stayed remarkably straight. At the top, however, he had the distinctive feature of it curling over to the right, which distinguished him from his brothers. He had no children yet that we know of.
By 2005, he had a nick near the base of his fin, and it was starting to bend to the right.
In 2006, Nakwakto unexpectedly disappeared, at the young age of 22. He is now presumed dead.