The Pacific Whale Watch Affiliation stated it witnessed a weird occasion within the Salish Sea on Thursday, which seemed to be a dramatic battle between a bunch of orcas and a pair of humpback whales.
In line with the PWWA, at about 11 a.m., whale watchers had been making their manner towards the U.S.-Canadian border within the Strait of Juan de Fuca when the captain noticed the group of whales. At first, whale watchers noticed what they thought was a pod of roughly 15 Bigg’s orcas swimming close to the floor. Not lengthy after, it grew to become obvious that two humpback whales had been of their midst.
PWWA officers stated the wild exercise, which included breaching, tail slapping and loud vocalizations, lasted for about 3 hours earlier than they disappeared within the fog.
“I’m nonetheless attempting to wrap my head round it as a result of it was completely unbelievable”, stated Mollie Naccarato, captain and naturalist for Sooke Coastal Explorations. “At first, the orcas appeared to be chasing the humpbacks, however then there was house between them. The humpbacks would return towards the orcas.”
Humpback whales and orcas had been noticed combating in Washington's Salish Sea.
Whale watchers initially thought they had been seeing solely a pod of orcas.
The combat lasted about 3 hours.
The combat included beaching, tail slapping, and loud vocalizations.
Bigg's orcas eat primarily seals, sea lions and dolphins.
The PWWA has not documented any lethal orca assaults on humpback whales on the Salish Sea.
The PWWA says interactions like it will grow to be extra widespread because of the rising populations of each species.
Whale watchers are hoping to relocate the humpback whales earlier than they swim south for the winter.
Consultants stated Bigg’s orcas primarily eat marine mammals akin to seals, sea lions and dolphins. Often, they tackle bigger prey, however searching two full-grown humpback whales is a uncommon state of affairs.
The PWWA has not documented any lethal orca assaults on humpback whales within the Salish Sea, however with the rising inhabitants of each species within the area, they imagine interactions like this might grow to be extra widespread.
PWWA naturalists have recognized the whales that had been noticed in Thursday’s occasion. The orcas are a part of the T109A’s and the T252’s group, that are sometimes seen within the outer coast. The humpbacks had been recognized as BCX1948 “Reaper” and BCY1000 “Hydra.” Reaper is at the least 4 years outdated and has been matched to winter breeding grounds off Jalisco, Mexico. Hydra, an grownup feminine, has been matched to breeding grounds off Maui, Hawaii, the place she has given beginning to at the least three calves.
Whale watchers are hoping to relocate the 2 humpback whales earlier than they swim south for his or her annual winter migration. The orcas will doubtless be within the space year-round, as a result of they don't seem to be a migratory species.
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