Matushka (AT109)

Matushka is a transient or marine mammal eating killer whale that is named after an island in Kenai Fjords where she spends a lot of her time hunting. This whale was first photographed in 1987 in nearby Prince William Sound. Initially she traveled with several other whales, but since 1990 she has typically been seen only in the company or her son, a large male, AT108 or, recently, alone. She is at least 35 years old and probably in her 40s or 50s. We have never seen her with a calf and suspect she may beyond the age during which killer whales reproduce (which would indicate she is at least 40). She and AT108 spend much of their time around Steller sea lion rookeries and haulouts such as the Needle in Prince William Sound and Chiswell Island in Kenai Fjords. They specialize in hunting the sea lions. There are no other killer whales that spend so much time in these sea lion rich areas. Matushka is often hard to see, surfacing quietly, slinking around the rocky islets, then suddenly speeding toward the sea lions as they dash up upon the rocks. She explores all the crevices and inlets where the young sea lions and pups might hide. When hunting Matushka can be unapproachable and difficult to follow, but she can be very boat friendly after making a kill. This year she brought one of her kills, a young sea lion, alongside a tourboat and displayed it to the passengers! Sometimes she will swim back and forth beneath our boat... an unusual behavior for a whale of the usually shy, stealthy, and aloof transient type.

Video footages of Matushka (you should have RealPlayer installed to open these files):

Play the clips twice if the stream is jerky (slow connections)
12 Sep '01: Matushka breaching in front of the sea lions hauled out at Chiswell Island rookery.
26 Aug '01: Matushka in a small cove in the middle of Chiswell Island sea lion rookery.
24 Aug '01: Matushka head flopping in front of Chiswell Island sea lion rookery.
These videos were kindly provided by SeeMore Wildlife and Alaska SeaLife Center.

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