Rare Sighting: Four Killer Whales Spotted Together in Southern New England Waters

In a rare and exciting event, scientists from the New England Aquarium spotted a group of four killer whales swimming together off the coast of Massachusetts. This was an unusual sight, as the area is typically inhabited by a lone killer whale named “Old Thom”. The pod of killer whales was initially noticed by Katherine McKenna, an assistant research scientist, who described her experience as follows:

“Initially I could only see two splashes ahead of the plane. As we circled the area, two whales surfaced too quickly to identify. But on the third surfacing, we got a clear look and could see their distinctive coloration and large dorsal fins.”

The four killer whales were observed approximately 40 miles south of Nantucket. The group consisted of one adult male, one adult female, and two juveniles. Orla O’Brien, an associate research scientist leading the aerial survey team for the Anderson Cabot Center for Ocean Life, expressed her awe at the encounter: “Seeing killer whales is particularly special for us because it reignites that childhood fascination with marine biology.”

The New England Aquarium has been conducting aerial surveys in this area for over a decade, but it is always a rare occurrence to spot killer whales in these waters. During their seven-hour flight, the team also observed nearly 150 other whales and dolphins, including fin whales, humpback whales, minke whales, and bottlenose dolphins.

In recent news, killer whales have been in the spotlight due to incidents of seemingly aggressive behavior towards boats in Spain and Portugal. The reason behind this behavior remains unknown. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, killer whales are the top predators in the ocean and often employ a coordinated hunting strategy similar to a pack of wolves.