Three Orca killer whales are continuing to attract huge attention in Cork harbour. They arrived in the harbour last week. The mammals, from a 30-foot male to a young 15-foot female, were first spotted last Tuesday by members of the Dolphin Research Centre at UCC.
The whales have been attracting hundreds of people to the foreshore. The last time an Orca was seen in Irish waters was in 1974 when one of the huge ocean predators, nicknamed Dopey Dick, spent three days feeding in Loch Foyle.
Orcas are the biggest members of the Dolphin family, having ten to twelve pairs of large teeth and can weigh up to 10.5 tonnes. However, whale watchers say that the name "killer whale" is not deserved. There has never been a reported case of this ocean predator killing people, they point out.
The whales are expected to stay feeding in Cork harbour for another few days but people, particularly on speed boats and jet skies, are being asked to give the animals space.
