Named after a local resident pod of Orcas, K pod is the Spirit Orcas mid distance swim group. Swim distances range from 3 to 10 kilometre solo swims and 30+ kilometre relay swims.
K pod is currently training to relay cross through Hunter Channel in near Waglisla (Bella Bell) off the central coast of British Columbia in the traditional territory of the Heiltsuk First Nation and the Great Bear Rainforest. Their training schedule consists of 3-4 swims per week including pool, lake and ocean.
Current members include:
A bit about local resident orcas – K pod
K pod is the smallest of the three Southern Resident Killer Whales pods with only 18 members.There are several whales in K pod that are easy to identify because of their dorsal fins. Spock (K20) has a tall and straight dorsal fin and was thought to be a male until 2004 when she gave birth to a calf.
K pod reached its lowest numbers shortly after the mass captures of the 60s and early 70s when only 16 individuals remained. Despite decades having passed, the pod has only increased in size by three whales since that time.
Current known members include: K12 Sequim, K14 Lea, K16 Opus, K20 Spock, K21 Cappuccino, K22 Sekiu, K25 Scoter, K26 Lobo, K27 Deadhead, K33 Tika K34 Cali, K35 Sonata, K36 Yoda, K37 Rainshadow, K38 Comet, K42 Kelp, K43 Saturna, K44 Ripples.
You can learn more about the Salish Sea’s K pod here.