Bare Facts: Female ~ Born 1986 ~ Mother Sharky ~ Father Unknown ~ Children A85 ~ ID Notch at top of fin; open, wispy saddle

Nodales was born in 1986, to the well known and much loved whale Sharky, when Sharky was 15. She was Sharky's first calf.
When Nodales was born, the family consisted of grandma Saddle, mom Sharky, and uncle A15. Sharky was a very playful mom, and Nodales got a lot of educational play from her childhood.
When Nodales was 5 years old, her grandmother and her uncle both passed away, leaving only Sharky and Nodales.
The two traveled together, never leaving each other's sides, for three years. Then, when Nodales was 8, her mom gave birth for the last time, to Nodales' younger brother Surge.
Then, sadly, in 1997, when Nodales was 11 and Surge was 3, Sharky passed away, leaving two orphans all alone.
Nodales took care of her younger brother and grew into a very motherly orca. The two grew up, surviving against the odds.
At some point, researchers suspect that Nodales had a calf of her own, but it died, which would explain why she took the orphan Springer under her fin.
When Springer was freed again, Nodales picked the little orca up and adopted her as her own. Nodales was so caring towards the little one, that when Springer wandered off to play with boats, Nodales streaked after her and sharply pulled her back to the other whales.
Now, Springer travels with her great-aunt's family, and Nodales travels with Surge again.
On April 12, 2006, Nodales showed up near Cetacea Lab with the rest of her family. To the thrill of researchers, she had a little calf in her wake! Nodales is now a first-time mom to A85, who has been described as very playful. Since researchers worried that she lost her first calf, everyone will be keeping a close eye on this one; however, Nodales has already proven her great mothering skills with Springer.
She is now 19 years old. She's identifiable by the nick near the top of her fin, and her open saddle patch on the left side. Her saddle patch on the right side is closed and a solid gray patch.