Ruffles, The Original Superstar
The celebrity orcas in “Orcas: Our Shared Future” are the Southern Resident orcas, often seen in the waters off the southern Pacific coast of Canada. These are some of the best-known orcas in the world.
One of these orcas is Ruffles, the original superstar of the Southern Residents. Ruffles has a dorsal fin with wavy ridges which make him easy to spot. When Canadian scientist Michael Bigg began cataloging the members of J pod, Ruffles was one of the first orcas he noticed. Ruffles always swam with Granny, another member of the J pod, leading researchers to believe they were mother and son. However, DNA tests revealed that Ruffles wasn’t related to Granny at all. He was adopted! This relationship shows the strong social connections orcas can create and share with one another. Don't miss more celebrity orca stories like this.
"Orcas: Our Shared Future" closes September 2, 2024!
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