| Orcas in the bay |
 Orcas in the bay...At 11:00AM 9 April 2011, the Whale Whisperer of Dyer Island Cruises (www.whalewatchsa.com)
witnessed a once-in-a-lifetime sighting found by professional wildlife
spotter and Dyer Island Cruises guide, Kira Matiwane.
Two Orcas, one
male (with the larger dorsal fin) and a sub-adult were milling about the
kelp near Danger Point. Dyer
Island Conservation Trust marine biologist, and self-professed Orca
fanatic, Michelle Wcisel was lucky to be on-board, “It was an incredible
experience! Kira and I were so excited we couldn't stop shouting every
time they surfaced. It was incredible to be with the true apex predator of the ocean!”
She
also states, “It is very rare to find two Orca whales on their own,
especially so close to shore. It was also this time of the year in 2010
and 2009 that Orcas were sighted in Walker Bay and False Bay.”
Orcas
are also commonly referred to as “killer whales”. They are the only
natural predator of the great white shark, and commonly predate on fish,
seals, and other species of dolphin. Orcas are transient, meaning they
occur in all the oceans of the world, and travel long distances in
large “pods” or groups. Although referred to as whales, Orcas are
actually classified as dolphins since they have teeth instead of baleens
and use echo-location.
The
Orcas at Danger Point seemed to be foraging on sardines in the bay.
There were many bait-balls of fish which were accompanied by Cape
Gannets, Bryde's whales, and cormorants. One Orca would spy hop (lift
its head completely out of the water) and then the two would head toward
a nearby group of gannets. Once there, one would spy hop again, and
then move towards the next group of gannets. Once the two began to move
offshore, the Whale Whisperer departed the pair.
Thanks
to the employees of the I & J Abalone farm near Danger Point who
called later in the day to alert us of the sighting. We greatly
appreciate all the help we receive from the public on unusual sightings
and strandings in the bay.
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