It’s time to name the babies! K-44, L-117 and L-118 will each receive names this summer. Each year The Whale Museum gives names to calves of the Southern Resident Community who have survived a full winter.

Over the years there have been many different ways in which the Southern Resident orcas have been named through The Whale Museum. Recently the Name the Baby Contest has been very popular. Members of The Whale Museum may suggest names for the ballot. Of the names suggested, based on certain criteria, three potential names are selected for each calf, and then placed on the ballot. This year you can vote for your favorite name during the month of August in the Exhibit Hall at The Whale Museum, on our website or at the San Juan County Fair on Aug. 15-18.

Whale Museum members receive free admission to our Exhibit Hall every day and San Juan County residents receive free admission every Thursday, so come in and cast your vote!

The blue boxes below contain the name choices for each orca calf -- check them out and vote!

	Baby Orca #1: K-44 (Male) This calf was first seen in July of 2011 on the west side of San Juan Island. He is the first offsrping of Deadhead (K-27). The Name Options for K-44 are: Ripple: a top 10 song by the Grateful Dead, a ripple in the water Fraser: Salmon return to the Fraser River each year Klipsun: Lummi word meaning beautiful sunset
	Baby Orca #2: L-117 (Gender Unknown) This calf was first seen in December of 2010. This is the third offspring for Ino (L-54). This calf has two brothers, Indigo (L-100) and Coho (L-108). The Name Options for L-117 are: Keta: Latin word for chum, a type of salmon Tyee: a name used for Chinook salmon Chelan: Salish word for deep water
	Baby Orca #3: L-118 (Gender Unknown) This calf was first seen in May of 2011 and is the fifth offspring of Nugget (L-55). L-118 has two living sisters, Kastaka (L-82) and Lapis (L-103), and one brother, Takoda (L-109). The Name Options for L-118 are: Jade: Precious stone; the North Pacific is also referred to as the Jade Coast Kalata: A combination of the first initials of Kasatka, Lapis and Takoda (siblings) Java: For Java Rocks or the dark color of coffee

Vote by sending an email with your name choices (one for each baby orca) to: oap@whalemuseum.org.

The new calf names will be announced in mid-September.

After a calf receives a name, it is entered into the Orca Adoption Program and is available to be symbolically adopted. It is only through an understanding of the orcas' needs for a healthy habitat and plentiful food resources that we can develop the conservation policies which will ensure their survival. The Whale Museum is committed to providing a variety of education programs to share information on how we all can help. Orca Adoptions help support this mission. Adopt-an-Orca today! Click on Meet the Whales to select the whale you want to symbolically adopt.