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7 unusual facts about Johnstone Strait


A1 Pod

They can be seen in the winter in the northern Johnstone Strait region and spend an important part of their time in the Broughton Archipelago.

Like in the 1970s, A1 pod is the most commonly encountered pod in the Northern Resident community, mostly due to its preference for the Johnstone Strait region during the summer and fall.

A30 matriline

The matriline was present in over 60% of all of the encounters in the Johnstone Strait region, making it one of best known matrilines.

A4 Pod

They are one of the most commonly encountered groups of orcas, mostly due to their preference for the Johnstone Strait region during the summer and fall and are often seen with other Northern Resident pods, especially A1 and A5 pods which appear to be very closely related to one another.

After being taken to Johnstone Strait and brought back to health, she was successfully reintroduced to wild whales before settling in with her grand aunt Yakat’s matriline.

A5 pod

A9 washed up on a beach in Johnstone Strait in November 1990, her stomach containing 5 litres of fish bones representing 13 different species.

Johnstone Strait

Scientists including Michael Bigg and Paul Spong have been researching the orcas in the Strait since 1970.


Inside Passage

It includes the narrow, protected Strait of Georgia between Vancouver Island and the B.C. mainland, the Johnstone and Queen Charlotte Straits between Vancouver Island and the mainland, as well as a short stretch along the wider and more exposed Hecate Strait near the Queen Charlotte Islands.


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