Bp955, A.K.A. “Ti-Croche”
Fin Whale
-
ID number
Bp955
-
Sex
Unknown
-
Year of birth
Winter 2008-2009
-
Known Since
2009
Distinctive traits
It hook-shaped dorsal fin is strongly curved toward the rear. However, it is the resemblance of Bp955’s dorsal fin with that of the late Capitaine Crochet that earned it the nickname “Ti-Croche”.
Its story
The shape of it dorsal fin reminds us of Capitaine Crochet (Bp050), whose death in 2013 represented a great loss. Thanks to a photo-ID follow-up, researchers were able to conclude in May 2018 that Capitaine Crochet is indeed the mother of Ti-Croche. A particularly clear photo of Ti-Croche taken by a GREMM collaborator on May 27, 2018 made it possible to compare it chevron to that of the calf accompanying Capitaine Crochet in a photo taken in 2009. Interestingly, Capitaine Crochet was always one of the first fin whales to arrive in the season. Ti-Croche seems to continue this trend.
In 2016, Bp955, a.k.a. Ti-Croche, had not yet reached it full adult size.
On October 5 2020, Véronique Lesage, scientific researcher at the Maurice Lamontagne Institute of Fisheries and Oceans Canada, and her team managed to tag this well known individual in the Saguenay-St. Lawrence Marine Park. And until January 13, the scientist tracked the astonishing voyage of Ti-Croche, a journey that took this individual from the Estuary to the Bahamas via Bermuda, before returning to Nova Scotia. “This is the first time we ever followed a fin whale this long in the fall and winter,” she exclaims. To read the whole story, click on this article.
Observations history in the Estuary
Years in which the animal was not observed Years in which the animal was observed
Extraits des publications Portrait de baleine
Last summer, an unknown fin whale made a noteworthy entrance into the Estuary. Its hook-shaped dorsal fin sparked a wave of general hope amongst captains and naturalists in the region. This particular physical attribute evoked the great disappearance of 2013: that of Capitaine Crochet (Bp050). In no time, the new visitor came to be called “Ti-Croche”, especially since this newcomer had not yet quite reached its adult size. But is Bp955 (its identification number) really the offspring of the late Capitaine Crochet?
The alleged death of the famous fin whale Capitaine Crochet had caused quite a stir both within the Marine Park’s whale-watching community as well as amongst researchers and the general public. As readers might recall, this female had been spotted emaciated and dragging a crab trap, and attempts to rescue her failed to produce the desired results; Capitaine Crochet left the Marine Park, never to return.
In fact, there is only one technique that can be used to obtain reliable genetic data for identifying kinship: biopsies. A sample of a few milligrams of skin and fat is taken using a dart and then analyzed in the lab, where the DNA is extracted. Therefore, in the absence of a biopsy, we are unable to confirm (or infirm!) that Bp955 is the calf of Capitaine Crochet!