Hook-S1a:

Out of 1100 different Risso's, Hook was the first Risso to be named.
Observed since 2000 he is on of the oldies and member of one of our best studied pod.
Hook is probably older then 30 years according to his white skin. Just like his pod members, Hoomer, Pointer, Bull and Raccoon, he can be find more often during autumn, milling and resting around, closely to shore.

Choppy-S4a:

Choppy is very easy recognizable at sea and from land, due to strange dorsal fin who was probably chopped off by a boat propeller. Choppy is normally present during autumn months appearing in a large group. Choppy can be seen with another special group mate, swimming side by side, called White Knight.

Spooky-S6d:

Spooky has been followed since the spring of 2002.
With his remarkable dorsal fin he is easy to recognise, even from land through the binoculars! Spooky is one of the Risso's who interact with the boat and he is quite a macho man. Spooky 's pod is consisting of 6 to 8 other males, all in the power of their life and always around off the south coast of Pico.

Chicco-S5a:

Famous and very dominant male, Chicco is always around off south with Pino, Lino, Rolo and Matzo and most of the time with the members of the S9 pod, Mischa and S9b and c.
All 8 together, they are the most dominant and strongest group around Pico and frequently involved in mating events or chasing after the ladies. They have been observed during all months of the year and are without no doubt resident to the research area.

Blunt, Fish, Iron, Thrihook, Calloon and Simmer, the S2 pod:

Since 2000, we have been spending many hours with the S2 pod, 6 to 10 beautiful male Risso's. In the early days of our research they were more dominant and frequently involved in mating events. But now, almost a decade later the pod is less seen and members are disappearing.

Storm and her calf:

One of the largest females of the population and very well recognizable at the left side by her white mark, Storm has become a mother for the first time during 2008!
Storm has first been seen in 2002, when she was still a young adult and since then she was observed many times accompanied by members of the S5 and S9 pod. In december 2008 she was first observed with a calf clustering togehter with other females and nursing calves.

The M2 females:

Observed since 2000, this pod of females is very important for our ongoing research towards the understanding of the female reproductive strategies.
Hookfin, Longstripe, Zusje and Old Calf are the mean ladies of this group and probably all family off each other. Matriarch Hookfin has not been observed during 2008, but Longstripe was seen in October with her third calf! We hope this one will survive, because Langstripes former two calves disappeared after some months. Hookfin has been giving birth to 3 calves as well (2000 till 2007), unfortunately her last two calves died.