Sporadic Events

Orca and Humpback Sighting (2005)

Photo: CIMT, 2005

FACTS

  • May 3, 2005 a pod of orcas were witnessed repeatedly approaching a pod of humpback whales.
  • The Humpback whales charged the orcas, causing them to veer away when approaching.
  • This interaction between orcas and humpbacks is rarely witnessed.

On May 3, 2005 observers aboard the R/V John Martin participating in a CIMT Wind-to-Whales cruise observed an interaction between a pod of orcas (Orcinus orca) and humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae). This ‘stand-off’ between the two species of marine mammals is rarely witnessed.

Link to More Information
CIMT Cruise Summary of Incident (PDF) http://cimt.ucsc.edu/Cruise Summaries/W2W_May_sighting.pdf