Calypso was named in memory of Jacques Cousteau who died in the summer of 1997, a month before this calf was named. The legendary research vessel Calypso was used to discover and explore the universe of the seas and oceans. Like other members of its family Calypso demonstrates how different saddle patches can be on each side. The left side is open and the right side is closed with a finger-like mark on the right side. In fact, Calypso looks remarkably similar to Matia, his/her older sister, but there is no scientific evidence that saddle patch patterns are inherited.

Calypso was first seen on June 5, 1995, by the researchers at the Center for Whale Research. It is not yet known if Calypso is a female of a male. It is often very difficult to determine this. Unless a good photograph can be taken of the markings on the belly, researchers need to wait until it either starts to "sprout" a tall, dorsal fin (and therefore is a male) or it one day appears with a newborn calf (and is obviously a female). In either case the whale must be at least eleven or twelve years old before the baby calf or the sprouted dorsal fin appears. It’s hoped that we’ll know the gender of Calypso soon.

Calypso’s close family consists of his/her older siblings Matia and Mega. Unfortunately, when the L-pod returned to the San Juan Islands in the spring of 2001, Calypso’s mother Squirty was not with the rest of the group. Because these whales live in such cohesive family units that never seem to separate for any lengthy period of time, it is believed that Squirty did die at some point over the winter.

In recent years Squirty and her offspring had been spending much of their time away from her presumed mother Alexis. They spent a good deal of time with other members of the L-pod including Ocean Sun (L-25) and Jelly Roll (L-43) and her offspring. This is quite unusual among resident killer whales. Now that Squirty is gone, however, it will be interesting to see what Calypso and his/her siblings do. They may choose to remain "on their own" and continue to travel with selected groups in L-pod. Or they may start to spend more time with their grandmother Alexis again.

The Southern Resident Community clan of orcas consists of three extended family groups, or pods, called J, K, and L. There are different types, or "races," or killer whales found throughout the world. The resident pods that are found in the Pacific Northwest and Alaska are not a true representation of all killer whales. "Our’ resident pods are mainly fish eaters. Although they are opportunistic feeders and will eat a variety of fish, their preferred diet of choice is salmon. Their favorite salmon appears to be Chinook (King) salmon. Males can reach 27’ long and weigh 13,000 – 15,000 lbs. While females average between 18’-21’ long and weigh between 8,000 – 10,000 lbs. Females can live into their 80’s and males close to 50. The average lifespan for a female is 50 and 25 for a male. We don’t really know why the big difference. Each pod has its own dialect, or set of calls, used for communication that is passed down from generation to generation. It is believed that the matriarch, or oldest female, is the one "in charge" of the group. Male offspring stay with their mothers their entire life. When daughters begin to have offspring of their own, at some point they branch off and start their own line but will continue to travel quite closely with their mother and the rest of their family.

"Why are they called Killer whales"? Old Spanish whalers originally called them "whale killers" because groups of these animals were often seen preying on the larger baleen whales, hunting in packs like wolves. Eventually their name got changed around to "killer whale" and that remains their common name today. Some people prefer to call them "orca" which is part of their scientific name, Orcinus orca.

Current threats to the marine mammals in this area are:
- Pollution of the Marine Environment
- Decline in salmon food resources
- The possible negative effects of all the commercial and private boating in the area
- Potential of a large oil spill

In the spring of 1999, the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada listed the Southern Resident Community as a "threatened" species. In May 2001, an Endangered Species petition was submitted to the U.S. National Marine Fisheries Services by the Center for Biological Diversity. The purpose of the petition is to get the Southern Resident Community listed under the Endangered Species Act. NMFS has one year to review and either accept of reject the proposed listing.

You can help researchers track orcas, minke whales, gray whales, Dall’s porpoises and other cetaceans in Washington waters. Report Whale Sightings & Marine Mammal Strandings: Call the 24-hour Whale Hotline (In WA) (800) 562-8832. Leave a message describing:
- What species you saw
- How many animals
-Their direction of travel
-The date and time of the sighting
- Any information on their behavior.

For more information, or to try your "phins" at sighting our adoptee Calypso or other wild Killer whales in person, you can visit the San Juan Islands in Puget Sound:
The Whale Museum
P.O. Box 945
62 First St. North
Friday Harbor, WA 98250
(360) 378-4710
http://www.whalemuseum.com