#ca180

[californiatransients]

9/12/19 - Three post-menopausal females dubbed “The Golden Girls” were seen traveling south together near Carmel at high speed. From top to bottom they are CA26, CA36, and CA180.

These three have been observed for over the past 30 years, and are believed to be aged anywhere from their 50′s to their 70′s! CA26 and CA36 have been known to travel together, but CA180 is a new addition: her regular traveling companion and presumed older son CA24 went missing last year, and her additional traveling companion male N25 has not been spotted yet this season.

Photos by Joshua Meza-Fidalgo

[californiatransients]

4/3/18 - CA140′s traveling closely with CA180 and N25!

From front to back: CA163 Liner, N25, CA180, CA140 Emma, CA140B Louise.

Photo by Kara Hall with Monterey Bay Whale Watch

[californiatransients]

Male N25 and female CA180 were spotted in Monterey on 3/31/18, but no CA24, who normally travels with them... While he may have temporarily dispersed to travel with another group for the time being, he is also a fairly old male (over 45 years old). Hopefully he reappears sometime in the future - he and his group are usually only seen 1-2 times a year, so it’s hard to draw any conclusions.

[californiatransients]

4/25/18 - Males CA49B and N25, plus some of their female traveling companions. CA49B has the smaller knick in his dorsal, while N25 has the larger one.

In the last photo, the female on the far right is CA180, who travels with N25 and formerly male CA24. CA24 and CA180 associated with each other for over 15 years, and it is likely CA180 has been post-menopausal for many years. CA24 was last seen in Monterey Bay in June 2017 and has not been sighted yet this year. While it’s possible he may have dispersed to travel with another group, it is more likely he is now deceased, as he was known to be an older individual.

Photos by Eric Austin Yee

[californiatransients]

4/10/16 - Video of CA24, CA180, and N25 traveling together, including some brief underwater footage of CA24.

Video by Katlyn Taylor.

[californiatransients]

4/10/15 - Young male N25 travels with male CA24 and  female CA180. CA24 and CA180 have associated with each other for over 15 years.

CA24 (right) almost seems to dwarf N25 in the third photo!

Photos by Jodi Frediani and John Mayer [x] [x]

[mojavedolphins]

Large male CA24 and female CA180: our research shows that these whales have been close associates for over 15 years!