Punta Norte Orca Research is a nongovernment organization, which is dedicated to identifying and studying the orca pods that live in the Valdes Peninsula area (Latitude 42 29 South, and Longitude 63 55 West), and specifically in its Northern tip. The Peninsula is part of the Atlantic coast of Patagonia, in the province of Chubut, Argentina. It is a provincial protected area and was declared World Natural heritage area by UNESCO in 1999.
The Orca (Orcinus orca), also known as Killer Whale, is the largest of the dolphin species, and finds its home in every ocean in the world.
Male Orca grow to a maximum length of approximately 9.8 meters (32 feet) and weigh 3,600 kg to 5,400 kg (8 – 11 tons). Female orca are smaller and grow to a maximum length of approximately 8.5meters (28 feet) and a weight of 1,400 kg to 2,700 kg (3 to 5 tons). Orca calves, at birth, are approximately 2.4 meters (8 feet) long and weigh about 180 kg (400 pounds).
Orca are sexually dimorphic, which means they have a different body shape and size for the two sexes. These differences start to appear at around 10 – 15 years of age. One distinguishing feature is the dorsal fin, which in mature adult males may reach almost 2 meters (6 feet), and is often triangular in shape. The dorsal fin on females typically only grows to an average of 1 meter (3 feet), and is curved in shape, more like that of a dolphin’s fin. One of the amazing characteristics of the Orca, and other dolphins is that menopausal females stay in the pod and are an important part of them.
The Orcas of Valdes are famous for their intentional stranding hunting technique, filmed and photographed by pretty much every documentary production company, and wildlife photographer.
Punta Norte Orca Research’s main objective is data gathering through notes and activity reports, and at the same time, photographing the individuals that are sighted in the area. With their identification we also organize the pods in family groups.
In order to identify the individuals, we need to photograph very specific parts of the bodies, from both left and right, in the correct angles, and in the case of the caudal fin, top and bottom. Orca have a white patch behind their eyes (eyepatch), one behind their dorsal fin, called saddle patch, and we also photograph the dorsal and caudal fins. On top of that, they tend to have lots of scars, which help to identify each individual. When we ID an individual, we also record, if it was seen alone, or in company of others, their behavior, tide, wind speed and direction. When we can, we get a clear photo of their under belly to also know their gender, as there is no dimorphism in their first years.
Orca pods live in matriarchal groups. The oldest female is the dominant one, usually leading its daughters and sons (and grandchildren). Usually the males stay with their mothers, even as adults. The pods are very small (4-10 individuals) and probably all relatives. We have identified less than 30 individuals, since we started working in 2004. This does not mean that that this is the number of orca in the area, but the number that approaches the coast, patrolling the sea lion and elephant seal colonies. 15 of them are capable of hunting by stranding, and some of the juveniles are already training with “dry” strandings or getting very close to the beach, rubbing their bellies in the pebbles. This year, we have documented the youngest strander, at the age of four, and it appears that the young are becoming proficient in the technique at early ages, as we are now observing young animals, on the shore.
A long standing theory which stated that the hunting technique was only passed from one generation to the other by the mothers, has been challenged this year also. A sub-adult male, that was only spotted once in the area a few months ago, started practicing with a group which consists of three siblings, two brothers and a sister, with a four year old calf (their mother disappeared a few years ago) and became a strander itself (first group with 100% stranders!!).
Within these family groups, there are animals that do not strand. Although we have no explanation for this, we believe that they might refrain from it, due to a dangerous and/or unsuccessful experience. We have also observed stranders, refrain from stranding for several years, and while we cannot offer an explanation for this, probably a “scary” experience has been the cause.
The orca population of Punta Norte is the only group of orca in the world that perform this hunting technique. Similar behavior has been observed in the Malvinas/Falklands and in the Crozet islands, but these are “milder” or less spectacular, because unlike in Punta Norte, the orca do not have most of their bodies out of the water. Most of the animals are seen all year around, although sometimes they do not show up in the area for a long time. Of course we see them closer to shore, when they have more chances of hunting sea lion and elephant seal pups. These intelligent animals take into account the tides, usually hunting in high tide in some areas and in low tide in others. Wind direction and speed is also considered, and they tend not to hunt with North or NE winds, and heavy seas, because these create big waves, and a lot of noise in the shore. This makes it harder for them to locate their prey, which they find by hearing and not echo location. Having said this, they do make exceptions, and sometimes hunt in unfavorable conditions, and in some occasions, during the seasons where finding a prey is harder.
Sometimes, we see one of the family groups in the area, but it is not uncommon to see the three groups together, whether hunting together or not. An interesting fact about these orca is that they approach the sea lion colonies, sometimes in tight formation, with two stranders in the center, flanked by two non stranders in the training stage. When the stranders hit the beach and grab the sea lion pups straight off the beach, the other two, are ready to catch the pups, who in panic get into the water.
Another behavior we observe is food sharing. When one of them returns to sea from a successful hunt, it carries the sea lion pup in its mouth, and offers it to other individuals in the group. While tearing it apart, they also share it with others. Sometimes, before killing the sea lion, the hunter lets it go, so the juveniles can capture it in the water, therefore training them to become successful hunters. There is no doubt that these incredibly intelligent apex predators are extremely successful due to their culture, training, teaching and strong social bonds.
With so much to say about the Orca, there is something to say about us, the members of Punta Norte Orca Research. We are led by a biologist (Ingrid Visser), who lives in New Zealand, a pro photographer from the USA (Gretchen Freund), a local expert in orca behavior (Juan Copello), a professional and multilingual tour guide- former park supervisor, and Jorge Cazenave, (enthusiast nature photographer). All of us pay our own way to Punta Norte, our camera equipment, and additional expenses, and we love to do it. Apart from our own photos, a lot of pro and amateur photographers donate their photos for ID purposes, and this makes our lives easier.
The team, or at least part of it, is in Punta Norte, usually during March and April, when the orca hunts for sea lion pups (Otaria flavescens), and from October to December, when they usually hunt elephant seal pups (Mirounga leonina). These are the orca “high” seasons, when they approach the coast with more regularity.
Our days usually starts before sunrise, and ends after sunset. Early March and early November are the toughest months for us, because the days are long and usually hot. Patagonia is also known for its high speed winds, and we get hit by them almost every day. We sit in the sun, wind and rain, and so does our camera gear.
The assistnce of the Punta Norte Park Rangers is invaluable for us, not only when we are in the field, supporting us with information, regarding the spotting, counting of individuals and photographs, but also crucial when we are not there. Through their information and photos, we are able to gather data about the different pods, 365 days a year.
In the last few years, with the ease of access to digital cameras, we have started receiving images from other parts of Peninsula Valdes, and also from other coastal areas of Argentina. This is very important, because we have no other way of knowing what “our” orca are doing when they are not in the Punta Norte area. Because of this, we now know that they sometimes gather inside the gulfs, to hunt different species of dolphins, they also go after Southern Right Whales, capture different species of fish, and penguins. Every year, we prepare an ID catalogue and every orca gets an ID number. Since the population is very small, all of them have names.
For several years, the children of the different schools in the Peninsula, have named the “new” orca, voting from a list of suggested names. Both the catalogue and the naming are very important because in this way, we try to show the local communities that these are “their” orca.
We also disperse information through our website, www.pnor.org, our Facebook and Instagram. During the peak months, we get a lot of information requests, and sometimes, we are asked to forecast the presence of orca. Of course, we do not give any forecasts, as they consistently show us that they arrive, and leave the area, deciding in “their own” way. As an example, in 2017, they were present for several days in March, and left the area on April 11, only to be seen again in May. This year, they did not show up in March, and only arrived in early April, with consistent presence in the area, even as this article is written, in late June.
We are proud and lucky to have the chance to witness one of the most spectacular predations on earth and invite you to visit Valdes Peninsula and Punta Norte, The Punta Norte Orca Research team.
