Agitated Orca Kills Dolphin

Agitated orca (killer whale), kills and devours dolphin, as tourists watch

An agitated female orca attacks dolphins, a female with her young pup, eventually tossing her into the air and snapping her back. Photo: Tommy Hatwell/Explore Images/Ferrari Press Agency. Image may be subject to copyright.

The attack occurred just a few weeks after the tragic death of Dawn Brancheau, 40,“trainer” at SeaWorld’s Shamu Stadium in Orlando, Florida.

[Note: The news of the attack which occurred on or about March 28, 2010, was buried by Google, and only became known to us when a reader submitted a link to the photo.]

The dolphin died moments later as  the rest of the whales began to devour her and her helpless pup.

The attack occurred at a seaside spot called Black Rocks, in the Bay of Islands, New Zealand, where tourist flock to watch dolphins, invariably agitating and harming the animals.

“The boat was just 50 to 100m away while the killing occurred, as the other pseudo orcas fled.” one of the tour operators declared proudly, calling the incident a “one in a million” chance.

Related Links:

• Leave Orcas (Dolphins) Out of Your Circus Act
• How the US Woman Emily May Harper Was Killed in NZ

• US Woman killed Swimming with Dolphins in NZ
• Another American Woman Killed in New Zealand
• Sick kiwis harm generous dolphin
• Tourist boats destroying dolphin community in New Zealand

Serial No  1,561. Starting April 2010, each entry on this blog has a unique serial number. If any of the numbers are missing, it may mean that the corresponding entry has been blocked by the authorities/Google in your country. Please drop us a line if you detect any anomaly/missing number(s).

How Emily May Harper Was Killed in NZ

With Thanks to TEAA whose blog has been hacked

Previously:

American Woman Killed in New Zealand while Swimming with [Agitated] Dolphins

A 27-year-old American woman on an “eco-tour” was killed on October 20,2009 while swimming with a school of dolphins in Marlborough Sounds, New Zealand.

Emily May Harper, 27, had a cardiac arrest while swimming with dolphins in Marlborough Sounds, New Zealand, October 20, 2009. Matthew Hawkins had proposed to Emily Harper. (Courtesy Matthew Hawkins )

In December last year, Moko, a three-year-old bottlenose dolphin,  who had been swimming off a local beach for more than 18 months, bringing fish and seahorses for people, was reported as being abused.

How Did Emily Harper Die?

There was much speculation about her death. At first the coroner said she had died of “natural death.” Then someone whispered in her ear that healthy 27-year-old women don’t die of natural deaths.

Then, her boyfriend, Matthew Hawkins, 28,  told The Denver Post that the coroner’s preliminary report had indicated that Harper might have been died of a cardiac arrest.

There have been many reports on Moko lately:

• Delinquent dolphin Moko causes terror in the surf Telegraph.co.uk
• Angry Dolphin Bullies Swimmers Off NZ Coast Sky News
• ‘Friendly’ dolphin strikes again New Zealand Herald
• Gisborne dolphin Moko injures two girls Stuff.co.nz
• Warnings as Moko keeps up his fish deliveries Stuff.co.nz
• Party goers warned against dolphin attacks 3News
• Mischievous Moko sparks marine alert Gisborne Herald
• Moko injures lifeguards Newstalk ZB

But the one that really caught our eye was this one researched by our friend TEAA:

• Is Moko the dolphin a danger?

The 8-min video is a must watch; it illustrates how playful dolphins, let alone agitated ones,  could harm humans just doing what dolphins do. Tens of thousands visitors, some extremely ignorant,  drive the dolphins in New Zealand waters to the edge, all year round.

Related Links:

• US Woman killed Swimming with Dolphins in NZ
• Another American Woman Killed in New Zealand
• Sick kiwis harm generous dolphin
• Tourist boats destroying dolphin community in New Zealand