Orcas Clash With Humpback Whales in Tense Salish Sea Encounter

Storyful
1

Whale watchers on a tour off the coast of Victoria, British Columbia, witnessed a clash between a group of approximately 15 orca whales and two humpback whales, recently shared video shows.

Tour guide Gary Neumann was leading a group with the Prince of Whales whale watching company on the afternoon of Thursday, September 29, when they came across orcas “harassing” two humpback whales.

Speaking to Storyful, Neumann said the tour group watched the tense encounter unfold over the course of more than three hours.

“I think from the groans and trumpeting from the humpbacks that something more was going on. I think that the Orcas spotted some sign of weakness in one of the whales and were investigating whether they could take one whale out,” Neumann said.

“The interaction that I witnessed is controversial in the whale watching industry. Some believe that the two species of whale were playing. I think from the groans and trumpeting from the humpbacks that something more was going on,” he added.

Pacific Whale Watch Association executive director, Erin Gless, told the CBC that while it’s “very common” for their boats to encounter both species of whales, spotting groups of both engaged “in the middle of a brawl” is much rarer. Credit: Gary Neumann via Storyful

Video Transcript

[NO SPEECH]