Photos: New Zealand orcas hit the surf in pursuit of prey

A New Zealand photographer has captured images showing orcas surfing in shallow water in pursuit of eagle rays.

Last September, a New Zealand photographer captured striking images showing orcas surfing Mt. Maunganui. The critically endangered orcas are so revered that lifeguards halted vessel training to allow the mammals to pass safely through the area.

Erin Armstrong’s images were picked up by national media and last week a New Zealand Herald story was shared via Facebook.

Upon seeing the images I reached out to Armstrong and Ingrid Visser, founder of the Orca Research Trust, to ask if surfing is a common behavior for New Zealand’s orcas.

Photo: ©Erin Armstrong

Said Visser: “Surfing orcas in New Zealand is far from rare. I regularly get reports of this occurring and I’ve observed it many times myself. However, I’m typically in my boat – so I’m on the ‘outer side’ of the waves and can’t get images like these.”

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In an email, Armstrong added: “On this day there was a crew training from the local Omanu Surf Lifesaving Club in their inflatable rescue boat. The New Zealand orca population is one of the most physically scarred in the world due to interactions with boats.

“I knew the orca were traveling down the coastline so at the risk of missing my opportunity to get the photographs I raced up to the Surf Club to ask if they could get their crew off the water. Super grateful to them for acting fast and allowing and although there was a lot of running involved, I still managed to get the shots I wanted.”

Photo: ©Erin Armstrong

Visser provided a link that includes images of orcas preying on rays and sharks, and surfing near the shore. New Zealand orcas also prey on fish, birds, and octopus.

Visser said orcas sometimes play in the surf between hunting forays.

Photo: ©Erin Armstrong

Said Armstrong:  “It is pretty incredible that these guys do visit our waters reasonably frequently, but that does not mean that they are easy to see. They’re very stealthy so every interaction makes me feel like the luckiest person in the world.”

–Images were used with the permission of Erin Armstrong and are protected by copyright laws