Killer whales spotted off Cornish coast

Two killer whales were spotted by walker Dom Clarke 100 metres off the coast of Cornwall.


Mr Clarke saw the endangered predators swimming along the British coastline whilst walking along the coast of Padstow.


Mr Clarke, who runs Explore the Shore, a rock pool exploration company, saw a six metre long whale and then a second smaller one, thought to be a calf.

The sighting comes as experts reveal more predators like sperm and killer whales - also known as orcas - are flocking to British shores due to warmer sea temperatures.

Mr Clarke said: "I couldn't believe it, it is certainly not what you expect to see while you're walking your dog.

"It's not totally unheard of for killer whales to be off the coast of England but it's certainly incredibly rare.

"It was amazing how clearly they could be seen. I first noticed a magnificent dorsal fin coming out of the water.


"People look out for porpoises and dolphins in Cornwall but you don't expect to see a killer whale.

"There was another man walking too and I grabbed his binoculars to get a better look.

"There was no mistaking what it was. I was just gutted I didn't have a camera."

Killer whales have a distinctive black and white colouring and males can grow up to eight metres (26ft) long and their dorsal fins can reach up to two metres (6ft).

They are the largest members of the dolphin family, weighing up to six tonnes, and are typically found in the Arctic and Antarctic seas and in warmer waters like the coast of Australia.

The sighting, which was made last week, follows news that more predators are likely to be found in waters around the South West of England as water temperatures rise.

It is thought that some species are hunting for new territories as global warming bites.

A dwarf sperm whale was spotted for the first time in the UK off the coast of Mount's Bay, in Cornwall, this autumn.

And experts now expect the 16-metre (52ft) grey whale to one day be found in water around Cornwall.

The whales, which can weigh 36 tonnes are usually found in the North Pacific and North Atlantic oceans.

Peter Evans, director of the Sea Watch Foundation, said: "We are now seeing a number of species far from home, and they probably will continue to recur with increasing frequency.

"Several are normally found off West Africa. For the moment they tend to be seen at times of year when our sea temperatures are at their warmest.

"Whales and dolphins can cope with a wide range of temperatures but their fish and squid prey tends to be more constrained, and their ranges are extending significantly northwards.

"The dwarf sperm whale was a big surprise when it was spotted.

"If the fish are extending their range, as we know many are, then the whales and dolphins will follow.

"Anchovies for example were really quite scarce in the North Sea 10 to 20 years ago.

"Now they are widespread and may be why the common dolphin is now a regular in the North Sea."

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/wildlife/8937921/Killer-whales-spotted-off-Cornish-coast.html