Dramatic Start To Orca Season

Thursday, April 5, 2007
NEW ZEALAND - The start of the orca-spotting season kicked off in dramatic fashion yesterday when two whales stranded briefly at Ruakaka.

The orca - part of a group of 18 - managed to free themselves and spent the afternoon hunting for stingrays. Orca, known as killer whales, usually live at sea, but visit Northland's coastline and harbours during winter months.

Ingrid Visser, founder of the Orca Research Trust, was tracking orca off Taurikura, in Whangarei Harbour, when she was alerted to the stranding. "We saw a big group of 18 whales. Two of them became stranded but luckily they freed themselves," she said.

A new calf was in the group and also an injured whale.

Source: The Northern Advocate