Day 10 camping in bear country, the day finally came. I’d been heading out most days, searching at low tide for bears and wolves but was often slowed down by a huge pod of Pacific White-Sided Dolphins which seemed to be feeding in the tidal currents a few miles SE of our camp. Today I headed out in the opposite direction towards the open ocean, weaving between the maze of islands here in the Broughton Archipelago. I stopped to have some tea and not long after could hear but not see, the unmistakable sound of blows, whales exhaling as they breached the surface. The succession between the blows was quick and I knew it was killer whales.

My first glimpse was quite uneventful and they were particularly hard to track, doing very long dives in all directions. Knowing the topography and bathymetry of the area, I thought there was a very small chance, if they kept roughly in the same direction, that they would be funnelled towards where I had been seeing the dolphins the previous days.  Transient killer whales predate mainly on harbour seals, sea lions and porpoises. I had heard stories of them attacking dolphins but never actually seen any pictures. 

The dolphins could have moved on and even if they hadn't, the orcas could change direction or it could be dark by the time we reached that area and the orcas may not be interested in hunting but I thought it would be worth being patient just in case. I read my book for hours, finished drinking my tea flask and from a few miles away kept the orcas within the focal range of my binoculars. It was about an hour from darkness but we were approaching where I had seen the dolphins yesterday. Then the orcas did an extremely long dive and I knew something was about to happen. I grabbed my camera, took a test shot for the low light and then the water exploded. Around 200 dolphins started to bolt, faster than I'd ever seen, then, striking from below a killer whale smashed a dolphin about 30 feet into the air. The pod of dolphins continued mainly airborne, but not this dolphin.

The orcas worked as a team, chasing, then attacking from below, launching the poor dolphin into the air with immense force. With continuous strikes the dolphins was thrown into the air, I imagine breaking the ribs and then with a final blow, maybe even the spine. It was sad to watch but they were clearly teaching the young orca of the pod hunting tactics. After an intense hour, just before sunset, the water turned red and the hunt was over.

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Photographer: Mark Williams

Printed on: Giclée Hahnemühle Photo Rag