Orca seen again off Canterbury coast

The second pod of Orca seen off Banks Peninsula this month was an ‘amazing experience’ for guests and staff on a Black Cat Cruises trip in Akaroa this afternoon.

It is quite rare to see Orca off the Canterbury coast but to see two pods in just over a week is really special, Black Cat Cruises Guide Clare Ruddenklau said.

The small pod of several larger adults and two juveniles were seen near the entrance to Akaroa Harbour. “They were heading south at a reasonable clip,” Ruddenklau said.

“It’s really quite unusual to see two pods of Orca within almost a week, let alone a month, at this time of year. It was a real bonus for the guests on board and everyone was pretty excited.”

Ruddenklau could only speculate why there have been increased sightings of Orca. “Maybe there’s more food about. There are pods circumnavigating New Zealand all the time but we very rarely see them.”

Last week Black Cat Cruises staff on board a routine trip off Banks Peninsula between Lyttelton and Akaroa saw a pod of about 10 Orca moving north.