Photo credit: Neil McDaniel

From the Office:

There has been several matrilines of fish-eating killer whales (residents) in the area this last week.  We have had reports of the A12s; A30s; G17s and I31s being around.  That's alot of killer whales!

These images were kindly provided by underwater photographer Neil McDaniel and were taken while he was in transit to a dive site on November 10, 2009.  Even without being able to see the animals' saddle-patches, we can conclude that the A30s were in the area that day thanks to the distinct nick in the forward part of one animal's dorsal.

This is 'Bend' (A72) who has had the nick since first seen in 1999.  It is know that the fish-eating killer whales stay in their matrilines for their whole lives.  Therefore, if A72 was there, the rest of the matriline would be there too.  There are now 10 animals in the A30s with 'Blinkhorn' (A54) having had another calf this year.