New Zealand Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research abstracts

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Propeller scars on and known home range of two orca (Orcinus orca) in New Zealand waters

INGRID N. VISSER

The Orca Project
P. O. Box 1233
Whangarei, New Zealand

Abstract  Two orca (Orcinus orca, Linnaeus, 1758), photo-identified as part of an ongoing study in New Zealand waters, have a series of deep scars in their dorsal lumbar-caudal regions which suggests they were caused by propellers. One of the animals, first noted to have the scars in 1982, is considerably smaller than an adult of similar age. The known home range of these orca are presented. A third orca hit by a boat is presumed dead.

Keywords  Orcinus orca; boat strikes; propellers; New Zealand; photo-identification; stunted growth; epimeletic behaviour; home range

M98085
Received 3 December 1998; accepted 11 June 1999

Short communication

PDF file of entire paper: medium quality (1528K); (scanned from paper original: notes about this process)

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