*Warning graphic content*
Today was a classic example of ‘patience pays off,’ for both us and the orca. Arriving to the hotspot, we were met fairly quickly with orcas from both Split Tip and Chalky’s pods, spread quite loosely across the area.

Dives of about 5-6 minutes were frequent throughout the day as we followed a group consisting of a mix of individuals from both pods, as they headed southeast into deeper waters.

The group travelled slowly toward the Hood Canyon before turning a full 180 degrees and heading back the way they’d come. As we were brought back to the hotspot, all aboard quickly realized the mood had changed. The orca began to surface in tight groups in every direction, before stealthily slipping back beneath the surface, clearly focused on something below.

Questions of their behaviour had risen all day and then out of nowhere they seemed to be answered. All around us, the orca turned and picked up speed. Surging, moving with intent, they were on. Suddenly a large blood bubble rose to the surface and what was believed to be the carcass of a juvenile Gray’s beaked whale was flung through the air.

We watched on as the orca shared their kill and flesh footed shearwaters squabbled over the scraps. Completely awe struck by what we had just witnessed, we made for home.

But mother nature had other plans, as our trip home was quickly interrupted by a small pod of false killer whales.

The name “false killer whale” came about from the similarity between the skull of the species with that of the killer whale. They are the only extant representative of the genus Psuedorca, with the other two species already extinct. Females can grow to 5 metres and 1.2 tonne, with males reaching 6 metres and 2.2 tonnes. Groups typically range between 10-60 individuals but have been reported to reach 400 or more, with the largest mass stranding involving at least 835 animals. Most of what is known of this species comes from examining stranded individuals and sightings are relatively rare in the Bremer Canyon so we couldn’t believe our luck.

A quick stop over at Glasse Island to catch a glimpse of the Australian sea lions and little penguins, ended an incredible and wild day in the Canyon.

-Naturaliste Charters

This post was adapted from a Facebook post, read the original here.

Photos by Nic Duncan and Sara Shimazu. Blog Post written by Marine Biologist intern, Aklie Braddock & Marine Biologist Jennah Tucker.

Leave a Reply