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Ireland's Wildlife

Irish wildlife, nature and biodiversity

You are here: Home / Wildlife News / Irish Wildlife News / Resident killer whales could die out due to pollution

Resident killer whales could die out due to pollution

May 5, 2015 by Calvin Jones 4 Comments

Killer Whales in Ireland under threat from marine pollution
Killer whales of the Scottish West Coast Community Group are regular visitors to Irish coastal waters (image via the IWDG).

The Irish Whale and Dolphin Group (IWDG) has expressed concern that Ireland’s only resident group of killer whales (Orcinus orca) could be dying out due to the long term effects of marine pollution.

Known as the Scottish west coast community group, the killer whale pod is the only known resident pod of this apex marine predator around Britain and Ireland. The group is largely based around the west coast of Scotland and Ireland, spending much of its time in Irish waters. Scientists have studied this particular group of killer whales for around 30 years, but in all of that time the group has never produced a calf.

There is a real fear among scientists that pollution in the marine food chain has rendered the pod infertile.

“It is down to about seven animals now,” said Dr Simon Berrow of the IWDG. “The big male is called Jon Coe, and there is a big notch in his dorsal fin. Others are called Nicola and Floppy Fin. They move down through Irish waters and go back to Scotland.”

Stranded Killer Whale Ireland
The IWDG is still awaiting results of an autopsy of this female killer whale that washed up on a Co. Waterford beach earlier this year (Image © Claire Scott, via IWDG)

The IWDG is still awaiting the results of an autopsy on a killer whale that washed up dead on the coast of County Waterford earlier this year, but Dr Berrow confirmed that pollutant levels have been high in previously stranded killer whales around the Irish coast.

“There is a concern they are very, very highly polluted as they are top predators and long-living, so they pick up pollution in the sea through food and accumulate more and more every year.”

While the Scotish west coast community group is the only known group of resident killer whales around the Irish coast, Dr Berrow also points out that Irish waters are frequented by other visiting groups of killer whales.

“People should know one of nature’s top predators is regularly seen in Ireland close to shore and off shore,” he said. “Every year we have sightings. We have them on the east coast, the west coast and probably mostly up around Donegal and Northern Ireland, but they are around the Irish Sea as well. They can be very close to shore and you can literally see them from shore.”

If you see a killer whale from shore or from a boat around the Irish coast please report your sighting via the IWDG online sightings scheme.

You can view the full photo-id catalogue of the Scottish West Coast Community Group on the Hebridean Whale and Dolphin Trust website.

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Filed Under: Irish Wildlife News Tagged With: IWDG, killer whale, marine, orcinus orca, pollution, whales and dolphins

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About Calvin Jones

Calvin Jones is a freelance writer, author, birder and lifelong wildlife enthusiast. He is founder and editor of IrelandsWildlife.com and founder and wildlife guide of Ireland's Wildlife Tours offering wildlife and birding holidays on Ireland's south coast.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Mark Carmody says

    May 5, 2015 at 11:56

    Hi Calvin, interesting article. I was fortunate to see Aquarius and Puffin of the Shetland pod (https://www.flickr.com/photos/drcarmo/3970218604/in/set-72157623364612865) a few years back (2009) from Annagh Head. Can you confirm whether the female washed up in Waterford is part of the pod? It is unclear from the article whether this is the case. Thanks!

    Reply
    • Calvin Jones says

      May 5, 2015 at 16:07

      Hi Mark, Just received confirmation that the dead female killer whale that washed up in Waterford hadn’t been previously catalogued in either Ireland or Scotland.

      Reply
      • Mark Carmody says

        May 5, 2015 at 16:36

        Thanks, Calvin. Appreciate that.

        Reply
  2. Calvin Jones says

    May 5, 2015 at 13:03

    As far as I know there’s been no confirmation of that Mark. Will see if I can find out more.

    Reply

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