Article contentOther people’s videos posted to social media also have thousands of views, showing there is a lot of interest in the solo orca swimming so close to the causeway.Article content“There’s always a lot of sea life around the causeway right there,” Ferguson said.Article content“Obviously, leatherback sea turtles and seals. And, we use the term black fish but they’re porpoises, and the rare dolphin. But I’ve never seen an orca there. It’s kind of strange but it’s absolutely amazing to see.”Article content Bruce Hatcher, marine biologist and Cape Breton University professor: “It is unusual (but not unheard of) to see only one animal, as they normally travel in pods (small family groups). That suggests that it might be a young male.” CONTRIBUTEDArticle contentORCAS AROUND NOVA SCOTIAArticle contentMarine biologist Bruce Hatcher said he saw photos of the orca online and confirmed it is “most definitely” the marine animal.Article contentAlthough not a whale expert, the Cape Breton University professor provided some information about orcas around the Nova Scotia coast.Article content“This species of toothed whale has at least a 100-year history of sightings in the Northwest Atlantic, but they are rarely sighted. It does appear that the frequency of sightings has increased over the past decade (although I have not seen any data), but that may just be that more people are looking for them,” Hatcher said in an email.Article contentArticle content“It is unusual (but not unheard of) to see only one animal, as they normally travel in pods (small family groups). That suggests that it might be a young male.”Article contentElizabeth Zwamborn of the Cape Breton Pilot Whale Project provided information on the Cape Breton Cetacean Sightings Facebook page she oversees. The non-profit provides information and data about pilot whales and others in the waters.Article content“Many of you will have heard of the orca that has been seen hanging around at the Canso Causeway for the past few days,” Zwamborn said in a post published Thursday.Article content“Orca sightings are very rare in coastal Nova Scotia (with the exception of Old Thom, who is seen annually in the Bay of Fundy).”Article content Elizabeth Zwamborn, Cape Breton Pilot Whale Project: “Orca sightings are very rare in coastal Nova Scotia.” CONTRIBUTEDArticle contentZwamborn noted some things of importance for people to remember when they spot an orca in the ocean near a coast line:Article contentOrcas staying alone in an area isn’t normal for the whales as they are social creatures who usually stay in groups, however, young males have been observed traveling solo in some groups.They travel great distances and seldom stay in one place for long, so this orca may be disoriented or ill.Watching the orca from the shore is best as boat noise and the presence of people in the water near it could cause the orca extra stress, which the animal doesn’t need right now.Article contentArticle content“While this orca might be okay, we also have to consider the possibility that this individual may be disoriented or ill,” said Zwamborn.Article content“The Marine Animal Response Society has been notified and will be able to check on the health of this individual if it continues to remain in the area.”Article content Tonya Wimmer, founder of Marine Animal Response Society (MARS): “It’s free swimming. It’s quite energetic. So, there’s nothing we can do at the moment except to monitor and make sure that situation doesn’t change.” Photo by ALAN COCHRANE /POSTMEDIA FILEArticle content‘IT’S QUITE ENERGETIC’Article contentTonya Wimmer, founder of Marine Animal Response Society (MARS), said people’s photos and videos help them monitor the orca, as well as reports from volunteers in the area.Article content“We deal with animals that are alive and in distress or that have unfortunately died, and the moment, touch wood, you know, this animal doesn’t seem to the there,” said Wimmer.Article content“It’s free swimming. It’s quite energetic. So, there’s nothing we can do at the moment except to monitor and make sure that situation doesn’t change.”Article contentWimmer said it appears the orca is a male because his dorsal fin is taller than a female orca would have.Article content“In our neck of the woods, in sort of this eastern part of Canada, we sometimes get orcas by themselves … we haven’t had them in this particular area, so, we’re not quire sure why it’s there. If there just happens to be a lot of food, we’ll have to sort of keep an eye out and see.”Article contentLike Zwamborn, Wimmer advises to watch the orca from the shore and not try to get close to it in the water.Article content“It’s really great that Mother Nature brings us some interesting surprises at times, so it’s lovely if people keep reporting to us and posting,” she said.Article content“Just don’t try to go into the water to get close to the animal.”Article content
‘It was phenomenal’: Rare sighting of orca off coast of Cape Breton
