On Wednesday 5^th May at 4.30pm, two orcas named ‘John Coe’ and ‘Aquarius’ were seen in the waters surrounding the Minack Theatre. They were identified by the shape and notches of their dorsal fins and patches of colouration near their eyes and on their backs which makes them easily recognisable and which can be used to track these individuals around the UK’s coastline. Cornwall Wildlife Trust occasionally receives reports of orcas in Cornwall but has not been able to confirm many previous sightings due to their similarity to risso’s dolphins and a lack of photographic evidence.  

Abby Crosby, Marine Conservation Officer at Cornwall Wildlife Trust, said:

“The Trust’s Seaquest Southwest team were incredibly excited to hear about this orca report, and even more delighted when the photos received then validated the record and identified these rare and beautiful individuals as John Coe and Aquarius. This is the first official orca record in our databases with associated photos in over a decade, and further proof of the value of our coastal seas in supporting these magnificent creatures.”

The two orcas form part of the ‘West Coast Community’, a specialised pod of eight individuals that can be distinguished from other groups of killer whales by their unusual sloping eye patch and larger size. Although they are regularly monitored, some individuals have not been seen in recent years and there have been no calves observed since monitoring began in the 1990s. According to the Hebridean Whale & Dolphin Trust’s website, the pod faces the risk of extinction as a direct result of human impacts. This includes exposure to high levels of now-banned PCB chemicals which have caused poor health and infertility within the pod.

As the largest member of the dolphin family, orcas are a keystone species that play an important role in the balance of our marine ecosystem. A fundraising appeal has recently been launched by Cornwall Wildlife Trust to tackle the issues affecting Cornwall’s dolphins and porpoises, several of which are caused by human behaviours. The Trust hopes to raise £30,000 to limit the effects of disturbance, bycatch and noise pollution to protect the presence of these marine mammals in Cornish waters.  

To help Cornwall Wildlife Trust protect Cornwall’s dolphins and porpoises, please go to www.cornwallwildlifetrust.org.uk/dolphinappeal