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Sparta
Sparta was born in 1996 to Olympia, a well-known prolific female. Sparta was thought to be a male but surprised researchers in 2001 by bringing a calf back to the feeding ground at the ripe old age of 5! Sparta was named for the javelin-like mark on the left side of her fluke.
Sparta was and still is a favorite of whale watchers due to her deep interest in acrobatic displays and her demonstration of them closer to the boat than most other humpbacks. Below left she is lobtailing within a few feet of the side of the boat. You don't often see a humpback looking at you but you can see Sparta's eye in the picture on the right.
Since we have seen Sparta since she was a small calf, it is possible to show the size difference in just a few years. Below left is Sparta in 1996 and in 2001 as an adult. What a change!
Sparta's History
Sparta's Family Tree
How can I see more of Sparta? Sparta on DVD ($17.76) Salt & Friends: Humpback Whales With Names Sparta is introduced in the story about Olympia. You'll see Sparta with Olympia close to the boat and a section where Sparta almost hits the side of the boat with her tail.
Sparta on VHS (Each title just $12.95) Salt & Friends: Humpback Whales With Names (Same program as on the DVD above) Your Favorite Whale: Sparta ($12.95) 26 minutes of excellent footage of Sparta. You see her flippering and lobtailing at the same time as her mother. Sparta approaches the boat and then breaches three times. Sparta is then seen feeding with another humpback, Venom. Finally, Sparta approaches the boat, rolls over and everyone looks Sparta in the eye!
Sparta is also on several of our tapes in the eleven volume series "Wonderful Whales" Sparta is on Wonderful Whales Volumes 9 and 11 (All Volumes $12.95 each, Volume 1 Special $10.00) Volume 9 (Sparta is seen lobtailing closer to the boat than ever seen before or after. Sparta joins Thread beside the boat and begins flippering while Thread tail breaches and does a headstand!) Volume 11 (Sparta brings her new calf up to the boat.)
A Real Whale Watch Trip-August 28, 2001 ($12.95) We left the pier and 40 minutes later sailed into the Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary. We were delighted when we spied a new mother and calf. It turned out to be Sparta. They are very close to the boat and you see the calf gently touching Sparta!
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