Orca Info

Minke whales, Orca (Killer) whales, and Melon-headed whales are some of the cetacea seen in Hervey Bay, Queensland, Australia, but not nearly so often as Humpbacks. Minke Whales: Migrating minke whales are regularly sighted in the Hervey Bay area, and come from the same cetacean family as humpbacks. It is reported that minke whales grow up to 9 metres in length, but most sighted in Hervey Bay are much smaller than this. The Minke whale has a slender streamlined body with a pointed head, and it's blow has been described as inconspicuous. Colours of Minke whales are bluish grey on top and white underneath. They live in all the oceans of the world. Marine biologists report that the Minkes which migrate to the Antarctic feed on krill, but those that migrate to the Arctic waters feed mainly on small fish. Orca Whales (Killer Whales): Despite its size and common name "Killer Whale", the Orca is, in fact, the largest dolphin, and is more closely related to smaller dolphins than to the 'great' whales. Orca is found in all oceans and seas of the world, from the deepest waters to the coast and was once a common sight in Hervey Bay. More recently, fishermen have reported sighting Orcas near Fraser Island since 1998. Orcas have a striking colour combination: the main colour is black, but there is the addition of a grey 'saddle' behind the dorsal, and a brilliant white that covers three areas. The head is rounded, with an indistinct beak, inside of which are 10-12 pairs of large teeth in both the upper and lower jaws. The male Orca's dorsal fin is a tell-tale giveaway, being as tall as a man and shaped like a huge triangle. Orcas are fearsome predators, known to hunt in pods to kill and eat seals, dugongs, fish, turtles, squid, seabirds, and even the massive Humpback and Blue Whales.