A calf follows its mother as a pod of orca work their way around Wellington Harbour today. Photo / Mark Mitchell
A calf follows its mother as a pod of orca work their way around Wellington Harbour today. Photo / Mark Mitchell
A trio of orcas in Wellington Harbour entertained hundreds of people today.
Whale experts were able to identify one, known as Funky Monkey and named for his "funky" dorsal fun.
Te Papa's marine mammals' collection manager Anton van Helden said Funky Monkey was at least 20-years-old and was often seenwith a female known as Miracle - so called because she survived a stranding at Great Exhibition Bay in 1993.
It was not known whether Miracle was one of the three in Wellington Harbour this morning.
The sight of the three orcas frolicking in the harbour stopped traffic and had people scrambling for their cameras. But those who missed out can take heart from the fact that orca - also known as killer whales - are not uncommon around Wellington and the Kapiti Coast at this time of year, Mr van Helden said.
