New Bremer Bay Orca calf Nuni was identified and named today in a very exciting opportunity to welcome another brand new baby in the population. She is the newest member of Queen’s family pod as mother Bindi proudly led her baby through The Patch today. Our inspiration for this little ones name is from a matriarch figure in our own family whom we grew up with during our Dad’s pearling days in Broome. Josie James, affectionately known as Nuni since our younger days, hails from the stunning community of One Arm Point on the Dampier Peninsula in Western Australia’s Kimberley region. Nuni taught us various survival and hunting techniques for this rugged landscape, we have fond memories of catching mud crabs together and she was truly the best at catching the magnificent Blue Bone Grouper.
Nuni currently still resides in the Kimberley and we hope that one day soon she will meet her namesake. We are confident that this little Orca will grow to be just as remarkable a hunter and provider as Nuni is! It was a relax day for the Orca as they made the most of what has been an incredible few days for this family pod. An epic hunt of the yearling Fin Whale and welcoming a brand new pod member means that the family will be both physically and mentally drained. The little one is looking healthy and strong, travelling with mum Bindi and how adorable to see such a new bub with the family with the daughters of Queen having welcomed many calves over the last decade reflecting the heath of this ever growing pod.
A mother Orca must keep her calf moving and for several weeks after the baby has been born both mother and calf have hardly any sleep. The calf must maintain its position next to mum in a formation known as echelon swimming to enable the mother Orca to tow the calf along in her slipstream so the little one doesn’t struggle to maintain buoyancy. The calf is able to move effortlessly enabling them time to increase their fat reserves in the days ahead which helps with buoyancy and most importantly the insulating blubber layer required to maintain a steady core body temperature. The weeks ahead will be a challenge but as this is Bindi’s third confirmed calf she is an experienced mother and we have great confidence in her ability to care for and guide Nuni through the coming days and weeks ahead.
