We set out over a lumpy, grey Southern Ocean this morning, the Alison Maree charging through the chop and swell as we headed toward the Bremer Canyon in search of the orcas. As we approached the hotspot and prepared ourselves to begin searching, it wasn’t more than 5 minutes before blows were spotted on the horizon.
The group was quickly identified as Tatty’s, including Chalky, the large mature male, as well as Missy and her calf, one of the newest members of the group, named Marley.
The pod was separated into several smaller groups, spread out across the hotspot and engaging in long dives, consistent with foraging behaviour. Missy and Marley approached us and did some beautiful close passes on either side of the vessel, their white patches flashing Gatorade blue as they passed just below the surface of the crystal-clear water.
While the group disappeared on another long dive, we made our way over to some more distant blows, to see who else was around. It was Split Tip’s pod, including Shredder, Mamung and Smudge.
Some younger members of the pod were rolling around at the surface, engaged in some sort of game. Or were they prey sharing? Deckhand Kane, moved up to a higher vantage point to get a better look and soon called down, sunfish!
While some species of sunfish (Mola alexandrini) may grow up to 3.3m in height (from the tip of the dorsal fin to the tip of the anal fin), this unlucky fish was no more than 30cm and was being shaken and thrown around like a chew toy by the orcas. Aside from their slightly toxic skin, sunfish have very little defence against predators, so they serve as ideal ‘training prey’ for juvenile orcas. Much like humans, orcas learn essential life skills through play where they can make and learn from their mistakes without the stakes being too high.
After disappearing for a moment, the orcas resurfaced, but this time presenting something that looked very out of place. It was a piece of plastic plant pot! And a bit of a sad reminder of human impact in even some of the most remote corners of the world.
We soon rejoined Tatty’s pod and were treated to a few more close passes, as some of the younger orcas swam rings around us while the more aloof males, Chalky and Hookfin, could be seen surfacing out wide.
With the winds due to pick up, we began to make our way home but quickly came to a halt again as some slightly different dorsal fins rose from the surface. It was a pod of pilot whales surfing in the swell. We observed from a distance as they passed our stern and then continued on home, but not without stopping by Glasse Island to peek at the Australian sea lions basking in the sun.
-Naturaliste Charters
This post was adapted from a Facebook post, read the original here.
Photographs captured by Dan Mantle. Blog written by Marine Biologist, Jennah Tucker
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