“Mystery” killer whales off Western Isles spotted hundreds of miles away in Norway
22 July 2021
For the first time the same killer whales have been recorded in the Scotland and Norway.
Experts identified three individuals photographed in southern Norway this month as part of a ‘mystery pod’ seen off the Hebrides in 2018.
The discovery solves a three-
The discovery is described as “significant” as it adds “real insight” into the dynamics of the killer whale populations found in the north-
Citizen scientist Asmund Aasheim photographed a pod of six whales in Børøyfjorden and sent his pictures to the Norwegian Orca Survey, where Dr Eve Jourdain found that the killer whales were not familiar from Norwegian records.
Further investigation confirmed that three of the killer whales in the Norwegian encounter had previously been spotted in the Western Isles.
This only previous confirmed sighting of the pod had been made by the Hebridean Whale and Dolphin Trust in 2018, when the spectacular animals were spotted off Vatersay just 300 metres away from the charity’s research yacht, Silurian.
The Trust’s science officer Becky Dudley said: “The encounter with this group of killer whales back in 2018 was one of the most amazing experiences I’ve had on Scotland’s west coast. It was made even more exciting when – despite much investigation and collaboration with other organisations – the identity of this pod remained a mystery.
“I am thrilled that the group has been matched to the group seen in Norway over three years later. It highlights how much there is to learn about the marine life in our oceans.”
Dr Lauren Hartny-
“We still have so much to learn about whale movements, and it’s fascinating to be able to add another important piece to the puzzle. Through working with citizen scientists and by collaborating with colleagues from Scotland, Norway and beyond, we really hope to learn more about this group.”
Scotland Norway Killer Whale Match 2
Scotland Norway Killer Whale Match 1
Scotland Norway Killer Whale Match 4