Killer Whales Snack In Auckland Harbour

Saturday, July 31, 2004
AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND - It was "orca chocolate" day in the Waitemata Harbour yesterday, as 18 killer whales ventured in as far as suburban Bayswater to feast on their favourite delicacy - stingrays.

The group, including several young orcas, awed boaties as they swam past Devonport, then out past Mission Bay and St Heliers. By early afternoon they were at Rangitoto Island.

Tutukaka orca scientist Dr Ingrid Visser, who follows the whales around the country on her own boat, has spent so much time with them over the past 12 years that she knew about half the group by name.

"Anzac", for example, got that name after Dr Visser saw on Anzac Day that the creature had been injured by a boat.

They, in turn, know her.

"They approach my boat more often than other boats. They roll over by the boat and look at me," she said.

"It's like a relationship with a dog. They bring food over to me and show me what they've caught."

Dr Visser has found that New Zealand's orcas - fewer than 200 individuals - look, speak and eat differently from their nearest neighbours, Antarctic orcas.

"The New Zealand orca specialise in feeding on sharks and stingrays. No other orcas in the world are known to do that.

"They are like people. If you go to Japan you eat rice, if you go to the US you eat hamburgers."

Dr Visser founded the Orca Research Trust and welcomes calls when anyone sees orcas. Her hotline is 0800 SEE ORCA (0800 733-6722).

Orca Research Trust: www.orca.org.nz