VICTORIA — A lone killer whale that moved into a Comox, B.C., harbour more than a week ago is entertaining crowds on the local waterfront with a non-stop swimming and leaping spectacle.
Comox Valley Harbour Authority spokesman Robert Clarke says there are hundreds of people on the community promenade today watching the orca breach and swim around the harbour.
He says there have also been reports of the whale swimming up the Comox River which flows through the Vancouver Island community and the same animal has been seen at Union Bay, about 20 kilometres south.
Extended Video: DFO killer whale specialist Jared Towers says he's not sure why the transient killer whale is staying in the #Comox harbour and despite social media info to the contrary he says the orca might not be eating. Also says ppl need to stay away from it. @CHEK_News pic.twitter.com/bb3MpZoKOS
— Dean Stoltz (@deanstoltzchek) July 31, 2018
The harbour is busy with commercial, sport and recreational vessels and Clarke says officials with Department of Fisheries and Oceans are there to ensure boats stay the regulated 200 metres away from the whale.
Whale researcher Josh McInnes says the full grown killer whale is what's known as a transient, a mammal-eating orca.
McInnes says the male has been identified as T73B and is a known loner from Alaska with a reputation for scouting out his own hunting grounds.
