Bumper is known for his distinctive six-foot tall dorsal fin and playful behavior around boats. "Lucky passengers aboard our whale watching boats were thrilled to see this family of orcas again ...

After two years of debate and 90,000 public comments, NOAA withdrew a contentious boat speed rule aimed at Atlantic right whale conservation.

The family is well-known among California whale-watching enthusiasts, with a reputation for playfully interacting with boats ... sons CA51B Orion and CA51C Bumper, and daughter CA51E Comet.