Digit is a vibrant and resilient young whale with a courageous spirit. As a calf, she successfully overcame a life-threatening challenge by miraculously surviving a severe and prolonged entanglement at the base of her caudal peduncle. The entangled fishing gear was tightly bound for so long that it impeded growth to the area and disfigured her skin. 

She now possesses deep grooves around the perimeter of the peduncle where it meets the flukes. There are golfball-sized protuberances and scar tissue along the top and lower portions at the base of her left fluke. These characteristics make Digit’s flukes immediately recognizable for both surface and in-water identification.

Despite her travails as a calf, Digit is surprisingly confident and sociable among her family members. She is especially self-assured when in the company of Canopener. We had the pleasure of witnessing she and Hope, a calf from Unit U, accompanying Canopener during a swim-along encounter in 2019. The affectionate, tactile youngsters swirled around the then-pregnant older whale while nuzzling her rostrum and rubbing against her swollen stomach.

In recent years Digit has become increasingly reticent among humans and tends to avoid boats and tourists. She veers away from snorkelers and performs shallow dives to maintain a safe distance from observers. She is more likely to swim closer to us when accompanied by a family member.

Digit’s irrepressible spirit and forgiving nature serve as a source of inspiration, reminding us of the importance of living with perseverance and compassion.