New Zealand and Italian researchers have confirmed that Type C killer whales from Antarctica travel to and from northern New Zealand
The Top Predator Alliance (TPA) used underwater cameras to shoot footage that they could use for identifying individuals. Photo: Ben Sharp (MPI) & Regina Eisert (TPA and Gateway Antarctica, University of Canterbury)
A curious orca spy-hopping out of an open-water lead in the Ross Sea. Photo: Paul Ensor (TPA & Gateway Antarctica, University of Canterbury)
Regina Eisert and Ben Sharp wait at the sea ice edge to collect dart biopsy samples from orca. Photo: Rohan Currey (MPI, TPA & Gateway Antarctica, University of Canterbury)
Photo-identification is the main non-invasive technique that researchers use for identifying orca. Photo: Paul Ensor (TPA and Gateway Antarctica, University of Canterbury)
Antarctic Type-C orca have learnt that, each summer, an icebreaker makes a shipping channel through the Ross Sea sea ice up to McMurdo Station. Photo: Paul Ensor (TPA and Gateway Antarctica, University of Canterbury)
An orca calf surfaces alongside its mother. Photo: Rohan Currey (MPI, TPA and Gateway Antarctica, University of Canterbury)
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