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Description
(image to be updated)
JIGSAW ("Jeh-ig-sawh"; named for her puzzle piece shaped markings) ♀
General Data
Species: Orcinus orca / Killer whale / Orca
Subspecies: 50% Pacific Northern Resident / 50% Northwest Pacific Offshore
DOB: ?/?/1998
DOD: 1/2/2031 (aged 33)
COD: unknown
Length: 16 ft. / 4.87 mtrs.
Weight: 8,000 lbs. / 3628 kilos.
Category: Drywork, all trainer levels; waterwork, experienced trainers only

Differentiating Characteristics
- Blue eyes
- Large, abstract-shaped eyepatches
- Has retained all of her teeth
- Wavy jawline
- White, jagged scars along upper back
- Mostly-straight dorsal fin
- 'Butterfly' shaped saddlepatch
- 'Tabbed' fluke tips
Secondary Reinforcers
- Bridge (whistle and tone)
- Ice
- Kelp
- Brush
- Fish play
- Bird feathers

Finds Aversive
- Tactile
- Loud, low frequency sounds
- Screaming children
- Hose
- Gelatin
- Separation from Nuni

Behavioral Tendencies
- Logging, napping
- Avoiding underwater observation windows
- Beaching herself on platforms or slideouts
- Playing unexpected games with her tankmates, whatever their social rank or age

Behavioral Incidents
2017: Several altercations observed with tankmate Gunnar. One instance of note detailed in her summary.

Summary
Jigsaw was a sexually-mature orca, deemed unreleasable due to "irreversible imprintation on people" after the prolonged care she underwent to survive a mass stranding involving her original pod. It was suspected that while in the wild, she had bred a few times before, but at the time of being discovered, there was no evidence to suggest any of her offspring had survived to maturity, and/or later becoming victims of stranding as she was. Artificial insemination was never attempted on her, given her advanced age and lack of conditioning for the procedure. Nuni was the only calf she has reared after being moved to Moreton Bay, though she experienced a false pregnancy in 2024.

Jigsaw's pod of Offshore relatives, largely unknown to recent records, were the subject of a mass stranding in northern California in September 2016. The exact cause of why they stranded remains an unknown, but there have been claims that sonar testing in the vicinity of where the pod was found had something to do with instigating it. The beach upon which they stranded was strewn with sharp rocks. Most of the orcas who were freed escaped at high tide with minor lacerations. Jigsaw and three others, those farthest 'inland', whose wounds were severe enough as to be life-threatening, were taken to a marine mammal rehabilitation facility for treatment. Two died shortly after arrival due to infection, while the third recovered more quickly than Jigsaw, and was released. During her stay, Jigsaw's wounds nearly turned septic, her behavior became moody and lethargic, and she was kept on a carefully-monitored diet and strong antibiotic regimen for the next eight months. Her name was given for having survived such severe injuries, while healing up to become virtually scar-free.

The duration of her stay and the intensity of the care required to save her life left Jigsaw unsuitable for release, despite some groups' arguments to the contrary. She had 'imprinted' too much upon people to be trusted not to return to areas with heavy boat traffic, seeking interaction in the event she did not reconnect with her original pod. The decision was made to fly her south, to Moreton Bay Oceanarium, whose orca exhibit had just undergone renovation and had the capacity to house her in addition to a few new acquisitions.

Jigsaw reluctantly adapted to her new lease on life. While at ease in the company of the other orcas (and proven to be somewhat-dominant at times, seemingly to those younger than her), she was generally skittish or indifferent around people, and did not establish any firm bonds of trust with any one trainer. She learned the most basic repetoire of commands, for husbandry purposes, but was not worked into established show routines until later in life, and ultimately was never appropriately conditioned in waterworks. However, despite how she came into being a captive, she seemed to enjoy spending time playing upon slideouts and other such platforms. Her talent in shows seemed to be in exhibiting high energy, airborne behaviors.

She showed an interest in her tankmates at Moreton Bay, so long as she held a higher social standing than who it is she was interacting with, and that her authority was recognized by them. Being that the majority of the other orcas were submissive by default, this was initially thought to not cause any problems. The behavior had led most observers to believe Jigsaw was the pod's adopted matriarch, despite having no blood relations among them, and despite how some of them - mostly Enzi - found her presence intimidating. Between sessions she was usually seen napping or engaging in little, object-oriented games with her podmates. She was probably the closest to Peachykins, who imprinted on her shortly after being moved to Moreton Bay.

Jigsaw showed her maternal side after Akello's unexpected birth in 2018. Queeky, as a first-time mother, relied on the older female's cues and examples to teach Akello how to feed, swim, and communicate. Vocalization recordings between the three revealed Akello's learned dialect to be more akin to Jigsaw's shrill voice than Queeky's rare utterances. After Queeky's death in 2023, Akello latched onto Jigsaw as her adopted mother.

Gunnar proved to be Jigsaw's biggest 'rival'. The Icelandic bull did not look kindly on her overbearing mannerisms, and would often thwart her attempts to socialize with Kopa or Enzi. Such altercations usually led to shoving and raking between them. One such instance, Gunnar lashed out and grabbed Jigsaw by the back of the head, tearing his mouth sideways and leaving her with severe, furrow-like wounds across her back. These later healed into white, ragged scars.

Jigsaw was also noted for making attempts to court Skate or Gunnar when cycling, to neither bull's delight. These advances later paid off. During performances she was usually kept confined to the exhibit's dining area, farthest from the main stadium, where she seemed to prefer to stay, either by herself or with another orca for company.

In 2018, approximately four months before Zuri's birth, it was discovered Jigsaw was expecting a calf. All throughout the pregnancy, she experienced an unhealthy lack of appetite, resulting in an abnormal weight decrease. Most of that time, she remained confined to the medical pool, or allowed to interact with only Peachykins. The identity of the sire remained a mystery until fourteen-months later. Jigsaw went into labor prematurely during an afternoon show, while performing a segment she had only recently been worked into the routine for, and delivered her baby before an audience of some five-hundred people. Born four to five months premature, "Nuni" required close monitoring and early hands-on examinations for the first year of her life. Having once been through such a regimen herself, Jigsaw tolerated these exams without quarrel, so long as she was tanked in the medical pool along with Nuni. Bloodwork revealed that then-fifteen-year-old Skate was the father. Given his unhealthy pedigree, and the genetic flaws associated with Jigsaw's hybridization, Nuni proved to be their only calf.

Photographs surfaced in 2024 of Jigsaw receiving ultrasounds on a weekly basis. While she experienced a noticeable weight gain that year, leading most to believe she was pregnant again, the signals proved to be false. No conclusive proof of a fetus, or a miscarriage, was ever discovered.

From 2029 onward, Jigsaw began to exhibit various health problems. No official reports were ever issued. But between shows and sessions, Jigsaw was often confined to the medical pool for extensive rest periods, along with Peachykins and/or Nuni.

She passed away shortly after New Year's in 2031. The cause has not yet been disclosed, while speculation has been rife with theories.

Facility: sta.sh/01kmdx66o5kf

Relatives
Grandmothers: unknown
Grandfathers: unknown
Mother: unknown
Father: unknown
Sisters: unknown
Brothers: unknown
Daughters: Nuni
Sons: none
Half-Sisters: unknown
Half-Brothers: unknown
Nieces: unknown
Nephews: unknown
Aunts: unknown
Uncles: unknown
Cousins: unknown

Tankmates
Moreton Bay Oceanarium [2017-2031]
Kopa [2017-2031]
Enzi [2017-2031]
Gunnar [2017-2025] [deceased]
Queeky [2017-2023] [deceased]
Skate [2017-2021] [deceased]
Peachykins [2017-2031]
Akello [2018-2031]
Zuri [2018-2027] [moved to NCS]
Nuni [2019-2031]
Maylea [2028-2031]
Sooleawa [2028-2031]
Athena [2028-2031]

Best of Jigsaw:

Jigsaw © me

Description
(image to be updated)
JIGSAW ("Jeh-ig-sawh"; named for her puzzle piece shaped markings) ♀
General Data
Species: Orcinus orca / Killer whale / Orca
Subspecies: 50% Pacific Northern Resident / 50% Northwest Pacific Offshore
DOB: ?/?/1998
DOD: 1/2/2031 (aged 33)
COD: unknown
Length: 16 ft. / 4.87 mtrs.
Weight: 8,000 lbs. / 3628 kilos.
Category: Drywork, all trainer levels; waterwork, experienced trainers only

Differentiating Characteristics
- Blue eyes
- Large, abstract-shaped eyepatches
- Has retained all of her teeth
- Wavy jawline
- White, jagged scars along upper back
- Mostly-straight dorsal fin
- 'Butterfly' shaped saddlepatch
- 'Tabbed' fluke tips
Secondary Reinforcers
- Bridge (whistle and tone)
- Ice
- Kelp
- Brush
- Fish play
- Bird feathers

Finds Aversive
- Tactile
- Loud, low frequency sounds
- Screaming children
- Hose
- Gelatin
- Separation from Nuni

Behavioral Tendencies
- Logging, napping
- Avoiding underwater observation windows
- Beaching herself on platforms or slideouts
- Playing unexpected games with her tankmates, whatever their social rank or age

Behavioral Incidents
2017: Several altercations observed with tankmate Gunnar. One instance of note detailed in her summary.

Summary
Jigsaw was a sexually-mature orca, deemed unreleasable due to "irreversible imprintation on people" after the prolonged care she underwent to survive a mass stranding involving her original pod. It was suspected that while in the wild, she had bred a few times before, but at the time of being discovered, there was no evidence to suggest any of her offspring had survived to maturity, and/or later becoming victims of stranding as she was. Artificial insemination was never attempted on her, given her advanced age and lack of conditioning for the procedure. Nuni was the only calf she has reared after being moved to Moreton Bay, though she experienced a false pregnancy in 2024.

Jigsaw's pod of Offshore relatives, largely unknown to recent records, were the subject of a mass stranding in northern California in September 2016. The exact cause of why they stranded remains an unknown, but there have been claims that sonar testing in the vicinity of where the pod was found had something to do with instigating it. The beach upon which they stranded was strewn with sharp rocks. Most of the orcas who were freed escaped at high tide with minor lacerations. Jigsaw and three others, those farthest 'inland', whose wounds were severe enough as to be life-threatening, were taken to a marine mammal rehabilitation facility for treatment. Two died shortly after arrival due to infection, while the third recovered more quickly than Jigsaw, and was released. During her stay, Jigsaw's wounds nearly turned septic, her behavior became moody and lethargic, and she was kept on a carefully-monitored diet and strong antibiotic regimen for the next eight months. Her name was given for having survived such severe injuries, while healing up to become virtually scar-free.

The duration of her stay and the intensity of the care required to save her life left Jigsaw unsuitable for release, despite some groups' arguments to the contrary. She had 'imprinted' too much upon people to be trusted not to return to areas with heavy boat traffic, seeking interaction in the event she did not reconnect with her original pod. The decision was made to fly her south, to Moreton Bay Oceanarium, whose orca exhibit had just undergone renovation and had the capacity to house her in addition to a few new acquisitions.

Jigsaw reluctantly adapted to her new lease on life. While at ease in the company of the other orcas (and proven to be somewhat-dominant at times, seemingly to those younger than her), she was generally skittish or indifferent around people, and did not establish any firm bonds of trust with any one trainer. She learned the most basic repetoire of commands, for husbandry purposes, but was not worked into established show routines until later in life, and ultimately was never appropriately conditioned in waterworks. However, despite how she came into being a captive, she seemed to enjoy spending time playing upon slideouts and other such platforms. Her talent in shows seemed to be in exhibiting high energy, airborne behaviors.

She showed an interest in her tankmates at Moreton Bay, so long as she held a higher social standing than who it is she was interacting with, and that her authority was recognized by them. Being that the majority of the other orcas were submissive by default, this was initially thought to not cause any problems. The behavior had led most observers to believe Jigsaw was the pod's adopted matriarch, despite having no blood relations among them, and despite how some of them - mostly Enzi - found her presence intimidating. Between sessions she was usually seen napping or engaging in little, object-oriented games with her podmates. She was probably the closest to Peachykins, who imprinted on her shortly after being moved to Moreton Bay.

Jigsaw showed her maternal side after Akello's unexpected birth in 2018. Queeky, as a first-time mother, relied on the older female's cues and examples to teach Akello how to feed, swim, and communicate. Vocalization recordings between the three revealed Akello's learned dialect to be more akin to Jigsaw's shrill voice than Queeky's rare utterances. After Queeky's death in 2023, Akello latched onto Jigsaw as her adopted mother.

Gunnar proved to be Jigsaw's biggest 'rival'. The Icelandic bull did not look kindly on her overbearing mannerisms, and would often thwart her attempts to socialize with Kopa or Enzi. Such altercations usually led to shoving and raking between them. One such instance, Gunnar lashed out and grabbed Jigsaw by the back of the head, tearing his mouth sideways and leaving her with severe, furrow-like wounds across her back. These later healed into white, ragged scars.

Jigsaw was also noted for making attempts to court Skate or Gunnar when cycling, to neither bull's delight. These advances later paid off. During performances she was usually kept confined to the exhibit's dining area, farthest from the main stadium, where she seemed to prefer to stay, either by herself or with another orca for company.

In 2018, approximately four months before Zuri's birth, it was discovered Jigsaw was expecting a calf. All throughout the pregnancy, she experienced an unhealthy lack of appetite, resulting in an abnormal weight decrease. Most of that time, she remained confined to the medical pool, or allowed to interact with only Peachykins. The identity of the sire remained a mystery until fourteen-months later. Jigsaw went into labor prematurely during an afternoon show, while performing a segment she had only recently been worked into the routine for, and delivered her baby before an audience of some five-hundred people. Born four to five months premature, "Nuni" required close monitoring and early hands-on examinations for the first year of her life. Having once been through such a regimen herself, Jigsaw tolerated these exams without quarrel, so long as she was tanked in the medical pool along with Nuni. Bloodwork revealed that then-fifteen-year-old Skate was the father. Given his unhealthy pedigree, and the genetic flaws associated with Jigsaw's hybridization, Nuni proved to be their only calf.

Photographs surfaced in 2024 of Jigsaw receiving ultrasounds on a weekly basis. While she experienced a noticeable weight gain that year, leading most to believe she was pregnant again, the signals proved to be false. No conclusive proof of a fetus, or a miscarriage, was ever discovered.

From 2029 onward, Jigsaw began to exhibit various health problems. No official reports were ever issued. But between shows and sessions, Jigsaw was often confined to the medical pool for extensive rest periods, along with Peachykins and/or Nuni.

She passed away shortly after New Year's in 2031. The cause has not yet been disclosed, while speculation has been rife with theories.

Facility: sta.sh/01kmdx66o5kf

Relatives
Grandmothers: unknown
Grandfathers: unknown
Mother: unknown
Father: unknown
Sisters: unknown
Brothers: unknown
Daughters: Nuni
Sons: none
Half-Sisters: unknown
Half-Brothers: unknown
Nieces: unknown
Nephews: unknown
Aunts: unknown
Uncles: unknown
Cousins: unknown

Tankmates
Moreton Bay Oceanarium [2017-2031]
Kopa [2017-2031]
Enzi [2017-2031]
Gunnar [2017-2025] [deceased]
Queeky [2017-2023] [deceased]
Skate [2017-2021] [deceased]
Peachykins [2017-2031]
Akello [2018-2031]
Zuri [2018-2027] [moved to NCS]
Nuni [2019-2031]
Maylea [2028-2031]
Sooleawa [2028-2031]
Athena [2028-2031]

Best of Jigsaw:

Jigsaw © me