Orcas And Dolphins Delight

Monday, April 13, 2009
MARLBOROUGH, NEW ZEALAND — It wasn't just the Easter bunny who made an appearance in Marlborough over the weekend.

A group of orca and different species of dolphin kept entertained those who had ventured into Queen Charlotte Sound.

Dolphin Watch Ecotours director Dan Engelhaupt said that on Friday his morning swimming tour encountered a group of seven orca in Tory Channel: one large male, a female known around New Zealand as Porky, five other females and a young calf.

In the afternoon seven common dolphins were seen as well as a larger group of 50 bottlenose dolphins. Both groups contained young calves.

Mr Engelhaupt said the group of Orca made their way down the Grove to Onahau Bay and left the Queen Charlotte Sound later that day. It was always great to to show people the world's biggest dolphin after a swim with the mid-sized bottlenose dolphins, he said.

An abundance of food and a lack of commercial dredging in the Sounds could have been the reason for their appearance, he said.

Mr Engelhaupt said the killer whales usually came into the Sounds chasing stingrays, while the bottlenose and common dolphin would be chasing kawhai and other smaller fish species.

"I think a lot of people who live in and around the Marlborough Sounds don't realise how many dolphins, seals and whales either live year-round or transit through this amazing area."

He said people should start looking out for dusky dolphins, which usually begin arriving in the Sounds at this time of year.

Those boating in Cook Straight should also keep their eyes peeled for humpback whales, although the majority would not be passing through the area until June and July.

Source: The Marlborough Express