North-east Atlantic Killer whales - Special Issue 2021

North-east Atlantic

Killer whales (Orcinus orca)

WORLD ORCA DAY!

ORCA FACT: Did you know killer whales in Norway, Iceland and Northern Scotland are generalist predators known to switch prey between herring and seals!

2021 | ORCA IRELAND

North-east Atlantic

Killer whales (Orcinus orca)

WORLD ORCA DAY!

ORCA FACT: Did you know killer whales in Scotland and Ireland,

2021 | ORCA IRELAND

North-east Atlantic

Killer whales (Orcinus orca)

WORLD ORCA DAY! B; Scotland, Ireland, Iceland & North Sea. Diet: Type 1 - N.E. Atlantic mackerel & herring and seals.

Type 2 - baleen whales & porpoise.

C; Gibraltar & Canary Islands.

Diet: - Atlantic bluefin tuna.

2021 | ORCA IRELAND

North-east Atlantic

Killer whales (Orcinus orca)

WORLD ORCA DAY!

ORCA FACTS: - Genetically isolated populations.

- Populations have distinct vocal dialects.

- Killer whales from Iceland and Scotland share 3 call types and show the most movement between populations.

2021 | ORCA IRELAND

North-east Atlantic

Killer whales (Orcinus orca)

WORLD ORCA DAY! ♂

Large eye-patch

Distinct saddle-patch

♀

Norway: 971 individuals (Jourdain & Karoliussen, 2018).

Iceland: 432 individuals (Samarra et al., 2017).

approx. 6 metres in length.

Northern Scotland: 37 individuals (Foote et al., 2010).

Ecotype 1 killer whales can be found in the Northern Isles in Scotland between May to July. Every year these killer whales travel to Iceland for the seal pupping season.

Downward slanted eye-patch

Scottish Isles & Irish coast: Only 8 individuals (Beck et al., 2014).

2021 | ORCA IRELAND

♂

Faded saddle patch

♀

approx. 9 metres in length.

Ecotype 2 killer whales can be found in the Hebridean Islands, Scotland and occasionally in Welsh & Irish waters between July & September. They forage exclusively on marine mammals.

West Coast Community

Killer whales (Orcinus orca)

WORLD ORCA DAY! ♀"Puffin"

♀"Nicola"

♂"Commet"

♂"John Coe"

♀"Occasus"

♀"Moneypenny"

♂"Aquarius"

♂"Floppy Fin"

Only 8 individual's left in the "Scottish West Coast Community" that occurs in Scotland & Ireland.

2021 | ORCA IRELAND.

Images source: www.hwdt.org