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Killer whales hold a special wonder for many people and in recent years, John Coe and Aquarius of the West Coast Community have become local celebrities. Morven, our Communications Manager, has followed the story of the plight of these killer whales for many years. Here she shares what has been uncovered about the group since she began working at the Trust…
Read MoreOver 90 people joined an expedition during the 2023 field season. Trained in data collection and survey protocol, these citizen scientists joined a community of people - stretching back over 20 years - helping to improve the understanding of whales, dolphins, porpoises and basking sharks off Scotland’s west coast and safeguard them for future generations.
Read MoreThe tale of the West Coast Community of killer whales will be told in a new film by Director, George Hoagy Morris. Over the coming weeks, George will take to the water, attempting to capture footage of the elusive West Coast Community. Inspired by the story of this unique population of killer whales, the film will share their tragic story with new audiences.
Read MoreThere are only two known recordings of the vocalisations – or ‘voices’ - of the West Coast Community killer whales. Last week, these rare recordings were shared with the British Library to be placed in their archives and preserved for future generations alongside the sounds of extinct species and lost human languages.
Read MoreCasting your eye over a calm sea, you’d be forgiven for thinking life beneath the waves is peaceful and serene…it’s anything but! HWDT provide acoustic data to artists and musicians who raise awareness of the soundscape beneath the waves and the importance of noise to marine life. Here we share two recent collaborations with artists who have utilised the sounds we’ve recorded during monitoring expeditions to create beautiful songs of the sea.
Read MoreOn Mother’s Day, we’re taking a dive into the maternal instincts of whales, exploring how dedicated killer whale Mums are when it comes to raising young
Read MoreOrca Watch is running this week, a ten-day event coordinated by the Seawatch Foundation. With land based watches taking place all around Caithness, North Sutherland, Orkney and Shetland, enthusiastic citizen scientists will be keen to catch a glimpse of these apex predators. But it’s not all black and white when it comes to killer whale populations in Scottish seas
Read MoreWell-known killer whale John Coe from the West Coast Community has been spotted of the English coast again, this time seen off Dover, in the English Channel. John Coe was seen with a second individual, likely to be Aquarius.
Read MoreMuch loved killer whales John Coe and Aquarius from the West Coast Community have returned to the Hebrides 9 days after this famous pair were recorded off the English coast for the first time.
Read MoreWe are calling on members of the public to record their at-sea excursions and sightings of whales, dolphins, porpoises and endangered basking sharks off Scotland’s west coast to boost monitoring efforts and strengthen understanding of the coronavirus lockdown’s impact on these animals.
Read MoreJohn Coe and Aquarius were seen swimming into Strangford Lough, Co. Down in Northern Ireland on Friday. Every sighting of these individuals is crucial in advancing our understanding of the west coast community! If you’ve seen killer whales on the west coast, we’d love to hear about it.
Read MoreThe identity of a group of nine killer whales off Scotland’s west coast, encountered during the Hebridean Whale and Dolphin Trust’s annual marine research expeditions last year, remains a mystery, despite extensive research and a flurry of sightings of killer whales in the Hebrides over recent weeks.
Read MoreTwo male killer whales were spotted today off the North coast of Mull, one being the infamous John Coe.
Read MoreTwo male killer whales were spotted today off the North coast of Mull, one being the infamous John Coe.
Read MoreEach week, alongside the Blue Planet II series, our team will share their own 'Into the Blue' moments from on board our research vessel, Silurian. This week, Tom Reade - our former First Mate shares his encounter with the West Coast Community.
Read MoreYou might have heard us mentioned on the BBC One Show last night and part two is due to air tonight (13th September). Here is a little bit more information about the West Coast Community and the Hebridean Whale and Dolphin Trusts (HWDT) research on this fascinating group of animals.
Read MoreOver the last two weeks there have been over 13 sightings of killer whales, totaling 53 animals recorded. This is a fantastic showcase of the importance of the Hebrides for this enigmatic species, and highlights the power of citizen science for monitoring these amazing animals.
Read MoreLulu, a member of the West Coast Community killer whales, found dead and stranded on Tiree in Janaury last year, had one of the highest levels of polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) pollution ever recorded in the species. High PCB levels are linked to poor health, impaired immune function, increased susceptibility to cancers and infertility.
Read MoreOne of the West Coast Community of killer whales, known to HWDT as Comet, was identified as Dopy Dick - the lone killer whale who swam up the River Foyle in 1977. Making him over 60 years old today!
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