25/02/2026
More false killer whales in the Bay of Plenty yesterday! Cluster 2 individuals were sighted off Anchorite Reef, one of their regular stops in search of large schools of fish.
A big thanks to Orca Wild Adventures for the report and great photos! Pictured here is a group of subadult individuals. Of note are the two cuts (one fresh, one healed) on the mouthline of the whale at the top of the picture. The most likely cause of these injuries is fishing line. False killer whales are known to interact with fisheries, in particular long-line fisheries. Interactions may result in injuries and death and some populations around the world have undergone drastic declines as a result.
Documenting and quantifying the rate of fishery related injuries is part of our long-term research. However, it can be hard as we require good photos of both the mouthline and the dorsal fin so we can match the injury to the individual. That's why photos from helpful people such as Mark Tucker from Orca Wild Adventures are so important for our work. While it is concerning to see these injuries, it is important to know about them to assess the scale of the problem and find workable solutions.
As always, if you see false killer whales. PLEASE let us know here or on 0800 FAR OUT (0800 327 688). Thanks for the ongoing support! We couldn't do our work without your help.
