Canopener exudes a friendly, confident, and comfortable disposition that has made her a favorite among researchers and whale watchers in Dominica. She has been documented for 20 years, and is recognizable by a handheld canopener-shaped bite in her right fluke. She shares her amicable personality with humans by regularly approaching boats in a warm, welcoming manner. 

We had an extended encounter with Unit U in 2019 during which time we tracked Canopener and members of her social unit as they slept and periodically swam to relocate during breathing cycles. The younger whales seemed to gravitate towards her, consistently rubbing against her affectionately as they swam together. Canopener’s belly was swollen and due to her increased size, we suspected that she was pregnant. Despite her larger girth, she was careful and gentle in her movements and demeanor among both human observers and her family members.

During our 2021 field session we observed Canopener from the surface swimming with a calf. We had a brief glimpse of her underwater but the calf was too far away for documentation.

In 2022, we were warmly welcomed by Canopener on our first successful day of observations for the season. As we entered the water she slowed and stopped to perform several leisurely underwater twirls just beneath us. Several moments later she rotated her body, pointed her rostrum down and away from us, and began expressing communicative clicks. Within 90 seconds, Hope ascended from the direction where Canopener had been sounding. The two friends greeted one another and swam away in a tactile display of tender companionship.