A week ago or so this Orca beached itself not far from here. It didn't make it unfortunately I think they did all they could but as far as I know they loaded it up and it was taken to a research centre for tests on why it had beached itself.

What a sad sight to see such a magnificent animal in this state. Surely, it must have been unwell, or something, to have found itself in this sad position. Killer whales are usually too smart & agile, to get into this sort of strife. They can, usually, go right up onto beaches when chasing seals or penguins & back to the sea, with no problems at all, can't they?? It looks to be a female, doesn't it, with its smaller dorsal fin.

I once saw a small pod of these wonderful creatures, just off the coast at Noosa, Qld, when we were heading north, on the pleasure cruiser, to Hamilton Island in the Whitsundays. Did not think they would travel that far up into the subtropics. Maybe they were waiting for humpback whales to come along on their winter migration north. These orcas were cavorting in the water rather like dolphins, only much bigger. Could not believe my eyes, but it was definitely killers with their distinctive black & white coloration.

for these images, Dawn. You certainly live in a very interesting part of Cape Town.

Yes it is horrible to look at Joy, and it is always so very sad to hear of them beaching themselves. It is whale season here now. A few years back near Kalk Bay I think it was a whole lot of whales just beached themselves, Volunteers tried for ages to direct them back to the sea and they just kept beaching themselves again and again. I still have the photos that were sent to me over the email, they are not mine so I can't share them on here. But it was very emotional stuff to see these huge mammels so helpless.

It was a very small killer whale, I wouldn't know if it was a female, you are probably right Joy! In the first photo you can see a wound, it looks like it has been attacked by something.

Joy wrote:What a sad sight to see such a magnificent animal in this state. Surely, it must have been unwell, or something, to have found itself in this sad position. Killer whales are usually too smart & agile, to get into this sort of strife. They can, usually, go right up onto beaches when chasing seals or penguins & back to the sea, with no problems at all, can't they?? It looks to be a female, doesn't it, with its smaller dorsal fin.

I once saw a small pod of these wonderful creatures, just off the coast at Noosa, Qld, when we were heading north, on the pleasure cruiser, to Hamilton Island in the Whitsundays. Did not think they would travel that far up into the subtropics. Maybe they were waiting for humpback whales to come along on their winter migration north. These orcas were cavorting in the water rather like dolphins, only much bigger. Could not believe my eyes, but it was definitely killers with their distinctive black & white coloration.

for these images, Dawn. You certainly live in a very interesting part of Cape Town.

That must have been quite something to see and experience Joy! You and Bruiser must have had lots of these kinds of encounters with all sorts. It is a wonderful experience to have been yachting like you did for such a long time !

We certainly did, Dawn & this is something I shall never forget. Can still see it. They were between us & the shore so they were fairly close in. Bruiser missed seeing it. :( Later that same year, when we were heading back south, from the Whitsunday Islands, I was standing near the bow of the boat & watched as two humpbacks crossed our bow about 50 metres away. That was the closest I have ever been to them & Bruiser doesn't remember seeing them.

I have never seen a close up of a whale.

Beautiful fish.

Did it die? I could not understand if it came to the beach to die or not.

While whales aren't fish but mammals & breathe air, as we do, Glad, they are such huge creatures who need the support seawater provides for their weight. Their internal organs get crushed if out of the water for too long. Unfortunately, that magnificent animal pictured above did not survive.

Orcas, or killer whales, are not actually whales but are members of the dolphin family. While they do "beach" themselves (quite a feat for an animal of this size) when chasing seals or penguins for food, it would appear this one may have been washed up on to the beach.

The greatest whale sight I have seen was a pair of giant humpback whales who crossed in front of the bow of the pleasure boat we were working on. They were magnificent to see.

Sorry it did not make it.
Hey I learned something! I thought whales were in the fish family.

Never to late to learn. thanks Joy.