Thrills as Antarctic type-C killer whales make first visit to Tasmania
A special breed of orca has been officially sighted in Tasmanian waters for the first time. SEE THE PICTURES AND VIDEO >>
Tasmania
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A SPECIAL breed of orca has officially been sighted in Tasmanian waters for the first time in history, and scientists couldn’t be more thrilled.
Pennicott Wilderness Journeys founder Robert Pennicott said skipper Richard Clippingdale was guiding a boat of 80 people through Wineglass Bay and East Coast areas when nearly 20 killer whales visited.
Killer Whales Australia volunteer scientists reviewed photographs and confirmed the six calves, three adult males and 10 adult females were not the usual Australian orca species, but were Antarctic type-C killer whales.
“They can be distinguished by their narrow-angled eye patch, dorsal cape and overall smaller size,” Mr Pennicott said.
“They came really close to the boat and then kept on their merry way.”
Mr Pennicott said there was nothing quite like a killer whale sighting, which his crews were starting to see more regularly – up to 20 times a year.
“What stands in my memory is when they’re covered in water and the sun hits them, you’ve never seen something so black and white.”
Killer Whales Australia program manager David Donnelly said there have been five historically recorded sightings of the subspecies in Australian waters.
“Most people are very excited when they’ve seen their first killer whale but become even more excited when they realise they’ve seen a very rare event and might not experience it again,” he said.
If you see one of the highly unpredictable and mobile apex predators, relay your sighting and location to Killer Whales Australia via their Facebook page or call the DPIPWE whale hotline 0427 WHALES.
A DPIPWE spokeswoman said 12 killer whale sightings were recorded in Tasmanian waters last year, with some from the same individual sighted at different times or locations.
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