Friday OT Thread - Killer Whales Off Newfoundland

[Huz-Z]

This is completely off topic. I live in the east coast of Canada, in St. John's, Newfoundland. Killer whale activity just off the coast has been unusually high this year, and resulted in some amazing video taken by local tour boat operators and their guests. Trust me whan I tell you that you will not see this at Seaworld:

This one shows orcas attacking a minke whale this past Tuesday, its somewhat graphic, so be warned and perhaps don't show small kids this one:

[Juice84]

I guess that minke swam into the wrong neighborhood. Thanks for sharing.

[bhoch]

Nice video's. Some amazing pics. I would not have wanted to be that close without a bigger boat!

[007MCoupe]

i was always under the impression orcas were only found in the pacific. cool videos. does your local news have any theories why there's been so much more activity this year?

[Huz-Z]

Originally Posted by 007MCoupe

i was always under the impression orcas were only found in the pacific. cool videos. does your local news have any theories why there's been so much more activity this year?

I haven't seen any comments on that. But this year has been unusual in another respect; there have been no icebergs off the coast at all. Perhaps thee is a link?

To bhoch's point about getting too close to these guys, the local news ran this story:

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/newfoundlan...deaos-818.html

A Newfoundland and Labrador whale expert is warning boaters not to get too close to crcas near the province's coasts.

"Killer whales will come in and actually get right underneath the propeller of the boat. They will get right up underneath the boat and an erratic movement … a flick of their tail," Wayne Ledwell who operates a whale release program.

"These are big animals, they're upwards of five to eight tonnes. They could tip over a boat."

At least three people in eastern Newfoundland have videotaped orcas in August attacking prey near in Tors Cove, Torbay and Trinity Bay.

Although its unusual to see orcas in Newfoundland and Labrador coastal waters, it's believed that hundreds of them live near the province.



Read more: http://www.cbc.ca/canada/newfoundlan...#ixzz0xAaS9pXT

[Huz-Z]

This wildlife photographer was on one of the tour boats and has some pics in his galleries:

http://www.pbase.com/raymondjbarlow/recent_photos

[vachss]

Originally Posted by Huz-Z

This is completely off topic. I live in the east coast of Canada, in St. John's, Newfoundland.

I'm very envious - my wife and I spent some time hiking around western Newfoundland a few years ago and loved it.

[Huz-Z]

Originally Posted by vachss

I'm very envious - my wife and I spent some time hiking around western Newfoundland a few years ago and loved it.

Glad to hear that! I've never been to California but always wanted to make it out that way.