Killer whales have been spotted off the coast of Co Kerry this week for the second time in just over three months.
The Irish Whale and Dolphin Group confirmed the sighting on Thursday.
Two killer whales were spotted just off Bray Head on Valentia Island in Co Kerry yesterday.
The “rare sighting” was confirmed by the cetacean conservation and outreach organisation Irish Whale and Dolphin Group through their social media channels.
A Facebook post written by Sightings Officer, Pádraig Whooley, said: “On reviewing the video and images sent to IWDG, we can confirm they are the pair of adult males known as John Coe and Aquarius who are the sole survivors from the Scottish West Coast Community Group, who hail from the Hebrides in Scotland.”
Out of the three sightings of this species of whale reported to IWDG in 2022, this is the only one to be validated. This shows us, according to Whooley, just how rare sightings of killer whales are in Irish coastal waters.
This particular pair of whales were spotted off the coast of Valentia Island just three months ago on April 22.
A colleague of the group, Siobhan Moran, who works with the Hebridean Whale and Dolphin Trust, confirmed that the pair had been spotted at the end of June off the Isle of Mull, as well as the Isle of Skye in early July.
Whooley wrote: “So, between these two Kerry sightings they have likely circumnavigated Ireland and ventured as far north as their core Hebridean habitat.
“Clearly marine apex predators are similar to their terrestrial equivalents in that they need the freedom to forage over a wide area, to maximise their chance of successfully locating and killing prey that often has a patchy distribution, which in their case includes other marine mammals such as pinnipeds and even minke whales.”
Whooley also described the sightings as "timely", as their All Ireland Whale Watch day is on August 20 around the coast.
The IWDG has put together a guide on what to do when you see whale, dolphin or porpoise, which includes strandings. “Reports of sightings and strandings help us understand the local marine wildlife population, and when you submit your report via the online form or the IWDG Reporting App, you are directly contributing to our understanding of where and when these species are present in our waters,” the group explained.
To report to them, you can use their free reporting app or fill out a form on their website, www.iwdg.ie.
If you find a live animal that is stranded, IWDG recommends contacting your local National Parks and Wildlife Service ranger.
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