Dances with whales: Stunning pictures of the synchronised nine-ton orcas



By David Derbyshire

Last updated at 12:03 AM on 09th October 2008

They are probably one of the best, and certainly one of the heaviest, synchronised swimming teams in the world.

Peeping out above the waves, three nine-ton killer whales line up with incredible precision for a display of their talents.

And the real beauty of the performance is that it is enacted entirely in the wild.

Making a splash: The three killer whales strike a remarkable pose in the waters of the North Pacific near North Vancouver Island



Killer choreography: The orcas crash through the waves together

The orcas, each more than 20 feet long, were seen not at a sea life centre but in the Pacific, off Northern Vancouver Island in British Columbia.

They were pictured by wildlife photographer Rolf Hicker, who has spent 15 years watching them hunt and play.

'There is hardly anything more beautiful than to be in a small boat with the engine off, and to see these creatures break through the surface,' says Hicker, 42.

Hold it for the cameras: A family of orcas break the surface and rest side by side

Hold it for the cameras: A family of orcas break the surface and rest side by side

Despite their awesome size and fearsome reputation, orcas are friendly, inquisitive and bright. They are not true whales but the largest members of the dolphin family.

The killer tag comes from their ravenous hunger for fish, squid, and warm-blooded mammals including seal, dolphins, porpoises and whales.

Orcas are sociable creatures, living in small family groups called pods, which follow their prey around the world's oceans, hunting in packs like wolves and devouring 500lb of food a day.

They are as happy in the chilly waters of the Arctic and Antarctic as they are in the tropics, but have occasionally been spotted off the north and west coast of Britain in June and July, when seals start having pups.



Fun times: A young male Orca surfing at high speed beside a 48 passenger whale watching boat

Amazing show: Two surfing killer whales in British Columbia, Canada. Peeking above the waves in perfect synchronisation

In Scotland, they have been captured on film leaping on the beach - and risking becoming stranded - in order to snatch dozing seals.

North Vancouver Island is a whale watcher's paradise, with orcas constantly in evidence.



'The resident Orcas travel in large family groups of about six to ten and are renowned for visiting special beaches in the summer to feed on salmon,' explains Hicker.

'Then there are the transient Orcas - single animals or small groups, who mainly come together to hunt.



These resident Orcas cast a magnificent sight lining up with almost natural military precision

'They can be found between California and Alaska and travel more, and further than, the resident whales, feeding on seals, dolphins, other whales, other marine mammals.

'The third group of Orcas, the so-called offshore Orcas rarely come near the land.



'But when they are seen it is quite a sight and you can see a group of up to 80 feeding on marine mammals as well as fish and even sharks.'