Photo credit: Joe Pender, taken during one of his Scilly Pelagics tours.
The seas around Scilly have welcomed back a very special pair of visitors — and this time, they’ve brought a remarkable surprise.
The same Iberian Orca pod spotted earlier this year has been seen again in Scillonian waters, now with a young calf in tow. This is the first time a calf has ever been seen with this pod, making it a hugely exciting development for researchers and marine wildlife enthusiasts alike.
Known as the Vega Pod, this group is classed as Iberian Orca, but they stand apart from others typically seen off the coasts of Spain and Portugal. These Orca are larger, avoid boats, have never been recorded interacting with other pods, and until now, had never been seen with a calf.
Originally a trio, the Vega Pod has now dwindled to two adult females. With no known social connection to other Iberian Orca, there were real concerns that this pod could eventually disappear. The appearance of a calf brings renewed hope for their future.
There’s also growing interest in their feeding habits. While Iberian Orca are known to specialise in hunting tuna which are now abundant off the south west of England, and recent sightings and predated seal carcasses suggest the Vega Pod may be adapting to a more generalist diet during their time around the islands.
Until last week, the pod had only ever been documented in the Strait of Gibraltar and south of Portugal — making their presence here even more remarkable.
