H725, a.k.a. “High Heels”

This animal is seen on September 6. Her “face” remains a mystery until she passes under the watchful eye of a member of the Mingan Island Cetacean Study (MICS), who recognizes her as H725, a.k.a. “High Heels”. This moniker refers to the shape of a clearly visible stiletto on her right lobe, which was already present back in 2008! Since then, this marking has faded, as H725’s tail has grown darker.

Born in 2008, H725 is one of Fleuret’s calves (H009). Fleuret is an “icon” of the Gulf of St. Lawrence. Encountered at a young age with her mother Pseudo (H008) in 1982 and frequently observed off Gaspé, Mingan and Anticosti Island, she has been seen on many occasions with newborns. She had her very first calf at the age of 9. Last summer, another one of her calves, born in 2015, spent much of the season in the Marine Park area. Nicknamed “Picotine“, it was recognizable by its small size, its scarred dorsal fin and by the fact that it did not lift its tail when it dove.

Long before they arrive at their summer feeding grounds, what are the first days of life like for these calves? Birth takes place in temperate waters, which is an important factor for the survival of the newborn, which lacks a sufficiently thick layer of blubber to survive in cold water. The calf is usually born tail first, and quickly moves to the surface to take its first breath. The calf is steered by its mother, as otherwise the absence of air in its lungs could cause it to sink. Additionally, she leads her offspring away from the placenta, which can attract predators.