Killer whale attacks dolphins off Irish coast

A KILLER whale attacking a group of dolphins was witnessed off the coast of West Cork in what experts say is a very rare occurrence in Irish waters.

Charter boat operator David Edwards was about 15 miles south of Galley Head when he saw the astonishing event and even managed to take a picture of the ocean’s largest predator in action as it bore down on a group of common dolphins. David, who operates West Cork Charters, spotted the spectacular scene on Tuesday at around 6pm.

He said: “I thought it was a killer whale but it’s so rare to see them I wasn’t sure at first. Then I saw it was chasing the dolphins and was just amazed.

“I think there were three killer whales in total but it’s so hard to tell with all that action going on, it happens so fast.

“There were dolphins swimming away in front of them as well, not too far ahead.” Sightings officer with the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group, Padraig Whooley, has no doubt it is a killer whale attacking the group of dolphins.

He said: “There are at least three common dolphins visible in the picture and the whale is only two or three metres behind them.

“It’s very likely this is a predation event, by the height of the dorsal fin it can only be a killer whale. Killer whales are the apex predator in the ocean and to see this in Irish waters is very rare.”

Killer whales are native to Irish waters but there are only between four and 10 spotted around the entire coast in a year.

And sightings of them attacking large prey are virtually unknown.

How many miles south of Galley Head in West Cork attack happened