The most incredible photographs taken by Simon’s Town Boat Company whale-watching tour operator Dave Hurwitz last Tuesday, of four Orca whales feasting on dolphins in False Bay, have captured the imagination of locals.

Orcas are the largest dolphin size, and also called killer whales, and were observed hunting a school of hundreds of dolphins between Kalk Bay, Seal Island, and Strandfontein. Hurwitz saw four dolphins caught by the Orcas.  His photographs were published in the Cape Argus, Cape Times, and spread like wild-fire on the internet.  Hurwitz observed a similar group catching a dolphin three years ago, and believes that they may be the same group of Orcas.  He said that Orca sightings have been rare in the past, but he had seen the group of four predators every day in the previous two weeks.   He added that there is plenty of action in False Bay at the moment, with four Bryde’s whales too, and up to 600 penguins feeding, a rare sight.

Orca whales are thought to be the most plentiful of all whale species, and occur in all the oceans of the world.  They are 7 – 8 meters long, weigh up to 8 tons, swim in pods of up to 50, can reach a speed of 50 km per hour, and feast on birds, fish, squid, seals, and dolphins, and are also known to attack whales, hunting in large packs, reports the Cape Argus.

Chris von Ulmenstein, Whale Cottage Portfolio: www.whalecottage.com Twitter:@WhaleCottage