A subspecies of killer whales has been spotted for the first time in Bremer Bay canyon and experts are unsure why they are here.
Marine experts have been left stunned after a subspecies of killer whale was spotted off Western Australia's south coast for the first time.The pod eats only fish, unlike other orcas in the area, which hunt other whalesThe pod of about 120 orcas was seen swimming in the Bremer Bay canyon over the past few days.
Marine biologist Pia Markovic said the pod was likely to be the type C or Ross Sea subspecies of orca from cooler waters on the eastern side of Antarctica. She said the whales were slightly greyer, smaller in size and sported a different eye patch to those typically seen in the area. Ms Markovic said the subspecies also had a different diet and only ate fish, unlike other orcas, which are known to also hunt whales."Animals don't really travel for any other reason apart from feeding or for mating," she said."Just like a visit to the day spa."
Although this was the fist time they had been spotted, Ms Markovic said she had no doubt the pod had been in the area before.
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