Above: Granny's ID photo from the 1999 edition of "Killer Whales" by Ford, Ellis and Balcomb.

Bare Facts:Female ~ Born est.1911 ~ Mother Unknown ~ Father Unknown ~ Children Sissy, ?Ruffles? ~ ID Distinctive notch half way down fin; small rounded fin

Granny is a legend in the orca community; she is the picture of old age, leadership (or matriarchship), and a central member of the Southern Resident community. If the age estimate is right, she's one of the oldest orcas ever known. If it isn't, that's still pretty impressive!
She was born around the year 1911, which, yes, makes her over 90. We don't know who her mother was, because by the time the study started, she had most likely died. In fact, there's a big fat question mark concerning the early years of Granny's life. Clearly she grew up surrounded by family, playing with other youngsters and learning the language and hunting techniques from older whales.
Our first glimpse into her life comes around 1935, when researchers believe Granny had her first calf. This little one was a girl named Sissy. In a community that loses so many of its young ones, Granny raised Sissy as a healthy calf. There may be photos of Granny taken in the 1940s with a young calf. Was this Sissy, or was it another calf who sadly didn't survive?
It is most likely Granny had other calves, but if so, none survived; or perhaps they simply broke off. Who knows if one of the other matrilines in J-Pod was formed by one of Granny's children?
Around 1951, Granny's closest companion, Ruffles was born. There is much debate as to whether Ruffles is her brother or son. Adding to the confusion is the fact that Ruffles may have been born much earlier, because he was a full grown male when the study started, making it possible to only guess his youngest possible age. However he is related to her, Ruffles and Granny stick to each other like glue.
In 1972, Sissy had her first calf, a male named Canuck (alternatively spelled Kanuck). The small family traveled closely with each other; by this time, any other family members from Granny's childhood had probably died.
The little calf didn't stay with the family for long. For the past few years, Granny's community had been dwindling thanks to captures for aquariums. Granny herself had probably been involved in some of these captures.
Less than a year after Canuck's birth, the family was captured, along with a few other whales, in the seine nets of Don Goldsberry. While most of the whales were released soon after, young Canuck was taken away. He would die almost three years later in SeaWorld California.
Returned to the waters with one less, by this time Ruffles was probably sprouting. It wouldn't be long before the family had grown again; Sissy had her second, and last calf, daughter Samish 2 years after the capture.
For many years, the small family remained the same: Granny, Ruffles, Sissy and Samish. Samish matured into a teenage female, and Granny installed herself as firm leader of J-Pod.
In 1987, Samish had her first calf, a small male named Capricorn. She raised the little one past the first few difficult years, then unexpectedly, at age 4, Capricorn passed away. Only 4 years after his death, she had her second son, Riptide.
Barely a year after Riptide's birth, Granny lost her only known daughter when Sissy disappeared.
As Riptide grew, Granny and Ruffles were often seen ahead of the pod, or separate from their descendants. Normal in a community where matrilines were not set in stone, as in the northern residents. Samish and her son would often be found with other young mothers, while Granny and Ruffles lead the way for the other whales.
In 2001, Samish had her first daughter, Hy’Shqa. Only 3 years later, she gave birth to her fourth calf and second daughter, Suttles. Her family continues to grow, and her calves are healthy and growing bigger each year!
Now, Granny is always found by Ruffles, playing, hunting, presiding as matriarch, or even teaching the younger males on romantic etiquette! No matter what their relation, Ruffles and Granny are clearly inseparable. Not that she lets Ruffles run the show; Granny dictates where they’re going, and if Ruffles goes another way, or disrupts the pod’s activities, she will get her message across with tail-slaps!
Granny is quite the famous whale. Not only is she well known and loved by researchers and whale enthusiast alike, but she can be seen in the opening footage of the film Free Willy (along with Ruffles of course!). The Seattle Times also recently ran a 6-part series on her life and the challenges she’s faced. She is now around 96 years old, and always found near Ruffles, usually a bit ahead of the pod. She is also an active baby-sitter, often watching the young ones (including her playful great-grandchildren) while the moms get a rest. Let us hope that this extraordinary whale will be with us for many years to come!