Nova Scotia Buzz
Don’t get him confused with Free Willy, this Orca’s name is Old Thom and he comes by our shores every so often to say hello. Brier Island Whale and Seabird Cruises posted the latest video of Old Tom on their Facebook page.
Old Thom was first spotted off our coast in 2008 as a lone juvenile which is unusual because Orca’s are normally pod oriented.
“He was quite curious and approached the boat, and was also active by flipper slapping and tail lobbing.” said Brier Island Whale and Seabird Cruises, Research Coordinator, Shelley Lonergan
“We have sighted him usually once every season and he can always be found with a large group of dolphins. He has also been seen by fishermen in waters off southwestern Nova Scotia year-round. We are not sure of his origin as orcas are not common in the Gulf of Maine or Bay of Fundy and are more north of Nova Scotia. We did see a group of orcas in 1999 and often wonder if perhaps he was part of that pod.”
If you are looking for a whale watching experience and to maybe catch a glimpse of the elusive Old Thom, check out Brier Island Whale and Seabird Cruises. They’re in their 35th year of business and 37th year of research making them the longest running whale watch company in southwestern Nova Scotia.
Data and photographs are collected on every cruise and contributed to long term research projects. On the cruises are naturalists and marine biology students who provide an educational cruise.
