Murihiku Regeneration
  • Home
  • About Us
    • Meet the team
    • Structure and Context
    • Office of Upoko
    • Te Rūnaka o Awarua
    • Waihōpai Rūnaka Inc.
    • Ōraka Aparima Rūnaka
    • Hokonui Rūnanga
    • Our Partners
    • Job vacancies
  • Events
    • He Ao Hou - New Futures Murihiku Teacher PD Day
    • Energy and Innovation Wānanga 2024
    • Energy and Innovation Expo 2023
    • Science and Innovation Wānanga 2021
  • Our Mahi
    • Te Ara Aukati Kore - Education, Training, and Capability
    • Southern Ocean - Murihiku ki te Tonga
    • The Energy Transition Programme
    • Te Ao Tūroa - Environment
    • Building Sustainable and Resilient Communities
    • Regional System Leadership
    • Taonga Species Research
  • Latest News
  • Contact

News article

Murihiku Team Continues Killer Whale Research Programme

Curious Antarctic Type-C killer whales head towards the Murihiku zodiac (far left) to have a look at their visitors. Photo: Colin AitchisonCurious Antarctic Type-C killer whales head towards the Murihiku zodiac (far left) to have a look at their visitors. Photo: Colin Aitchison

Kākahi-killer whales hunt prey as varied as fish, penguins, seals, and minke whales, and are the top predators of the ocean. The fish-eating Type-C Antarctic killer whale (TCKW) is a designated focal species for research in the Ross Sea region Marine Protected Area (MPA). The reason for this special attention is that the Ross Sea fishery is potentially competing with TCKW for Antarctic toothfish (Dissostichus mawsoni), a large, high-fat fish thought to be a favourite food for killer whales, Weddell seals, and parāoa in the Ross Sea region.

Operating in a zodiac provided by Heritage Expeditions, the Murihiku Team had the opportunity to come face to face with the killer whales like this magnificent adult male. Photo: Regina EisertOperating in a zodiac provided by Heritage Expeditions, the Murihiku Team had the opportunity to come face to face with the killer whales like this magnificent adult male. Photo: Regina Eisert

Following the retreating sea ice south on the Heritage Adventurer, this week the Murihiku Expedition team reached McMurdo Sound, a known hotspot for Antarctic killer whales (Orcinus orca). In 2013, Murihiku ki Te Tonga Science Lead Dr Regina Eisert started the first Antarctic killer whale research programme in and for the Ross Sea region MPA to find out what the whales eat, how many there are, and how and when they move between the Ross Sea and New Zealand. To find out, killer whales are photographed to uniquely identify individuals (photo-ID), and their behaviour is observed from the air and with underwater cameras. Photo-ID allows tracking of whale movements when they are re-sighted in New Zealand waters or as far north as Australia.
As part of the scientific research programme, killer whales are filmed underwater. Here they are having a closer look at the underside of the zodiac. Photo: Murihiku ki Te TongaAs part of the scientific research programme, killer whales are filmed underwater. Here they are having a closer look at the underside of the zodiac. Photo: Murihiku ki Te Tonga

Field work on the Ross Sea killer whales was interrupted in 2020, but the programme was successfully re-launched during the inaugural Murihiku ki Te Tonga expedition in February 2023. Zodiac support provided by Heritage Expeditions allowed the Murihiku Team to move effortlessly among the ice floes and study the whales up close using underwater video and a small drone.

Although it is not clear who studied whom, as one group of whales after another made a beeline for the zodiac and gave it a thorough inspection. Access to boat support is a new capability for the Antarctic killer whale research programme and gives a fantastic boost to the scientific work.

Type-C killer whales are distinguished from other killer whales by their distinctive narrow, upward-sloping eye patches. This type is at home in the icy waters of the southern Ross Sea but also visits New Zealand. Photo: Regina EisertType-C killer whales are distinguished from other killer whales by their distinctive narrow, upward-sloping eye patches. This type is at home in the icy waters of the southern Ross Sea but also visits New Zealand. Photo: Regina Eisert

Posted: 27 January 2024

Prev article
All articles
Next article

© 2024 Murihiku Regeneration • Website by RS

  • Home
  • About Us
    • Meet the team
    • Structure and Context
    • Office of Upoko
    • Te Rūnaka o Awarua
    • Waihōpai Rūnaka Inc.
    • Ōraka Aparima Rūnaka
    • Hokonui Rūnanga
    • Our Partners
      • MSD Community Connection Service
    • Job vacancies
  • Events
    • He Ao Hou - New Futures Murihiku Teacher PD Day
    • Energy and Innovation Wānanga 2024
    • Energy and Innovation Expo 2023
      • He Ao Hou - New Futures Murihiku 22 May
      • Live Streaming of Wānanga 23 and 24 May
      • Hosts and Key Speakers 23-24 May
      • Energy and Innovation presentations - 23 May
        • Opening Addresses
        • Global Session
        • Empowering partnerships: government's role in Aotearoa's energy transition
        • Climate Economics
        • Regional Infrastructure
        • Social regeneration and innovation
        • Regional Innovation
        • The importance of the Māori economy through this change
      • Energy and Innovation presentations - 24 May
        • Regional Leadership Panel
        • Regional Plans and Priorities
        • Southern Green Hydrogen
        • Tiwai Smelter Future
        • Southland Aquaculture
        • Regional Case Studies: Decarbonisation
        • Innovation and Bluff Re-imagining
        • Confirming Priorities: wrap-up and closing
    • Science and Innovation Wānanga 2021
  • Our Mahi
    • Te Ara Aukati Kore - Education, Training, and Capability
      • He Ao Hou: New Futures Murihiku
      • Kia Tū Pathway Planning Programme
        • Kia Tū in schools
        • Kia Tū SIT Trade Training Programme
      • Anamata Māia: Bold, Confident Futures Service
        • Core Service Values
        • Our Kaimahi - Staff
      • Have your say!
    • Southern Ocean - Murihiku ki te Tonga
      • Subantarctic Islands
      • The Ross Sea Sector
      • Murihiku ki Te Tonga: Programme Overview
        • MKTT Research & Monitoring Programme
        • MKTT Science Team
        • MKTT Media and Resources
        • Scientific Expeditions
      • Blog
    • The Energy Transition Programme
      • Towards 2030- Regional Energy Action Plan
      • Energy Transition Plan
      • Murihiku Southland Regional Energy Development Plan - December 2023
      • Tiwai Future
        • Preliminary Closure Study
        • Cultural Significance of Tiwai Point
        • Environmental significance of Tiwai Point and surrounds
        • Tiwai Point - a contaminated site
        • Key documents and further reading
        • Have your say
      • He Honoka Hauwai - German-NZ Green Hydrogen Centre
      • Clean Energy Workstream
        • Renewable Energy Strategy
        • Documents - Key Reading
        • Have your say
      • Hydrogen and Green Energy
      • Hydrogen and Climate Change
      • Bell Bay Hydrogen Cluster
    • Te Ao Tūroa - Environment
      • Hokonui Rūnanga Kaupapa Taiao
      • Te Tapu o Tāne Ltd
      • Climate change
      • Have your say
    • Building Sustainable and Resilient Communities
    • Regional System Leadership
      • Building leadership across the takiwā
    • Taonga Species Research
      • What we do
      • Latest updates
  • Latest News
  • Contact