First confirmed sightings of the killer whale ( Orcinus orca) in Sri Lanka's waters

Abstract

Three killer whale (Orcinus orca) sightings were recorded during the twelve month period from March 2008 to February 2009 in the northern Indian Ocean waters around Sri Lanka. This included the first sighting of this species during a dedicated cetacean survey. In the past three decades, several dedicated cetacean surveys have revealed high species richness around Sri Lanka, but no killer whale sightings were recorded. Records thus far have been limited to two, very old, unconfirmed sightings and a few specimens in the fisheries bycatch. Due to this paucity of records despite dedicated surveys, the species has been considered to be rare in these waters. It is of interest however, that three sightings were reported during a short time span of one year, when no sightings had been reported previously despite numerous dedicated cetacean surveys and opportunistic observations of cetaceans in these waters.