Story: Orcas

Misshapen dorsal fin

Misshapen dorsal fin

About a quarter of the orcas seen around New Zealand’s coast have bent or misshapen dorsal fins. This is a much higher incidence than in other parts of the world, but the reason for this is not clear.

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Orca Research Trust, Ingrid Visser
Photograph by Ingrid Visser

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How to cite this page:

Gerard Hutching, 'Orcas - Orcas in New Zealand', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/4008/misshapen-dorsal-fin (accessed 19 March 2024)

Story by Gerard Hutching, published 12 Jun 2006