Bare Facts: Female ~ Born 1980 ~ Mother Licka ~ Father Unknown ~ Children Kelkpa, Surf, Current ~ ID Even curve; sharp point; thin fin; open saddle

Sonora was born in 1980 to Licka (A8), when Licka was 27. When she was born, she traveled with her mom and her older sister Havannah. They also often traveled with her probable grandmother, Eve (A9), and Eve's two sons Top Notch and Foster.
In 1990, when Sonora was ten years old, her grandmother died and washed up on a beach. Her uncles wandered for a while, alone and behaving unusually. They traveled without other groups, and one of the few groups they were seen with was Sonora's matriline.
The year after her grandmother's death, Sonora had her first calf, Kelkpa (A57). She was only 11 at the time!
Kelkpa was a different-looking whale, whose head was oddly blunt. She was a playful calf and Sonora was a good mother.
Sadly, when Kelkpa was five, she died. It was very strange: researchers found her alone on December 16, in a bay, with her family nowhere in sight. They attempted to rescue her, but she died before they could. Necropsy results showed that she had died of a bacterial infection. After she died, her family showed up at the bay, calling loudly. Perhaps looking for the little one? Or just confirming that they had lost her?
While it was sad that Sonora lost her first calf, Kelkpa made an important contribution to research. She was the first whale that we knew the cause of death!
The same year that Kelkpa died, Sonora had her second calf. Surf (A66), was a playful little male. Sonora was an attentive mother.
In the years 2000 and 2001, Sonora and her sister suffered many losses. First, their uncle died, then the next year, their last uncle, and their mother died. Sonora and Havannah were now their own matriarchs.
In 2004, Sonora had her third calf, A79. We will have to wait and see how this youngster is doing, but in 2005, it showed up on OL cameras, tucked in beside mom!
Now, Sonora is 25 years old. She is healthy and travels with her older sister, her son (who is much bigger now!), and A79. She is currently the most productive living female in A5 pod.