Transients hunt and catch Harbor seal
off Victoria waterfront, August 27, 2007
photo by Courtney Smith. This photo was taken under DFO license #2006-08/SARA-34.
Transient female T36A lunges, showing small yet distinctive black dots on her chin. These unique markings could prove useful in future identification of this animal.
photo by Courtney Smith. This photo was taken under DFO license #2006-08/SARA-34.
T41A surfaces in close proximity to a hunted harbor seal.
photo by Courtney Smith. This photo was taken under DFO license #2006-08/SARA-34.
A harbor seal with several fleshy wounds on it's head catches a quick breath.
photo by Courtney Smith. This photo was taken under DFO license #2006-08/SARA-34.
A Transient killer whale lunges after a harbor seal, August 27, 2007.
photo by Dave Ellifrit. This photo was taken under DFO license #2006-08/SARA-34.
Transient killer whale female T36A makes a dramatic lunge at a harbor seal.
Encounter #053-2
August 28, 2007
T41's and (T36A's) pod
Platform: Orca
Begin Encounter: 5:09 p.m.
Start Lat: 48° 25.19 N
Start Long: 123° 16.77 W
End Encounter: 6:07 p.m.
End Lat: 48° 24.47 N
End Long: 123° 17.69 W
Returned to Snug Harbor: 7:23 p.m.
Observers: Dave Ellifrit and Courtney Smith.
Soon after ending
Encounter #52-1, Center staff arrived on scene just south of Oak Bay and found a small group of transients (T41’s, T36A and T36A1) slowly milling around. The whales began lunging, hinting that a kill might be occurring. Sure enough, a harbor seal popped it’s head out amidst the splashing. T41A, along with the unidentified mom and calf seemed to be the most involved in the attack, with T41 and T44 circling around the periphery. The attack lasted about ten minutes, before the whales came together in a tight group and headed southwest out of the bay. An interesting highlight of the foraging event was that after the seal kill, the transient calf chased a seabird before it flew away.
