Bare Facts: Female ~ Born est.1947 ~ Died 2000 ~ Mother A7 ~ Father Unknown ~ Children Corky2, A21, Okisollo, A29, Ripple, Fife ~ ID Thick fin; sudden curve; perfectly rounded tip; stripes in saddle

Stripe was born around 1947, probably to A7. She almost certainly had siblings, but they must have died before the study began, because A7 was never seen with any other offspring.
Stripe was full grown when the study began, and she had two calves. But unlike most whales, the story of her first known calf begins years before the study did.
Around 1964, when Stripe was about 17, she had a female calf, A16. This might have been her first calf. About three years later, she had another calf, A21.
In 1969, when A16 was five years old, Stripe and her entire extended family were captured in nets. Stripe, A21, and her mother were released, but sadly, Stripe's eldest calf was taken away from her.
The calf was taken to Marineland California, where she was named Corky2. She was later moved to SeaWorld California. Stripe would never see her again.
In 1971, Stripe had her third known child, Okisollo (A27). For the next two years, she traveled with her mother and her two calves.
In 1973, tragedy again hit the family. A21 disappeared, at the young age of six. The calf was almost certainly the one hit by a BC Ferry. If A21 was that whale, then his/her family kept the little one alive for fifteen days before the calf passed away.
Four years after that, Stripe had another loss when her probable mother, A7 died. The same year, Stripe gave birth to A29.
Meanwhile, researchers had gotten to know Stripe quite well. She was just one of the old matriarchs that everyone knew.
In 1980, three-year-old A29 passed away. This was the third calf Stripe had lost. Thankfully, Okisollo was healthy and still by her side at age 9.
The year after A29's death, Stripe gave birth to Ripple (A43). For the next nine years, their family would consist of Stripe, Okisollo and Ripple.
In 1992, Stripe had her last child, Fife (A60). We don't know why there was such a long wait between calves.
The year after Fife was born, Stripe became a grandmother! Ripple gave birth to her first calf, A63. Sadly, the calf died the same year.
In 1996, the latest addition to the family was born. Ripple gave birth to her second calf, Midsummer (A69).
For four years they traveled together. Researchers and animal rights activists formed a 'Free Corky' campaign, demanding SeaWorld to release Corky back into the wild, where she could be reunited with her family.
Then, in spring 2000, Stripe herself passed away. She never saw her eldest child again, but she did see three of her calves and one grandchild grow.
Stripe was identifiable because of the stripe marking on her saddle patch, which also gave her her name.