TWO killer whales have been spotted around the Hebrides in a rare sighting.
The orcas, John Coe and Aquarius, belong to Scotland’s only known resident pod of killer whales.
They were spotted in the Sound of Rum, northwest of the Isle of Eigg, by a small boat wildlife cruise firm, Hebrides Cruises.
A fishing vessel first reported the creatures before Indy Greene, a wildlife guide aboard the cruise boat, spotted them from over three miles away.
He said: “I've been volunteering and working in Hebridean waters since I was 10 years old, and it has always been a lifelong dream to see John Coe and Aquarius. I've missed them by minutes, many times over the years. To see them today was truly remarkable.
“It was a mind-blowing, humbling, thought-provoking and unforgettable day that I’ll remember forever."
John Coe and Aquarius were seen milling around “without purpose” before following a trawler vessel, potentially looking for prey left in its wake.
The pair’s distinct appearances, including a deep nick near the base of John Coe’s dorsal fin and a missing chunk from his tail fluke, makes them easily recognisable to onlookers.
Unlike other groups in the northeastern Atlantic, the west coast community of killer whales are unique, being up to one metre longer with distinctive eye patch orientations. They are a vulnerable population with their numbers dwindling over the years, leaving John Coe and Aquarius as the potential last remaining members.
James Fairbairns, skipper and director of Hebrides Cruises, said: "This footage is pretty much unique – for years I have dreamt about capturing footage of John Coe and Aquarius like this.
“I have never seen them interact in this way before, on their sides, swimming so close together; it looks so graceful and intimate. We feel incredibly privileged to have witnessed them in our waters once again.
“Today felt like a special reunion as it was the first time the bulls have been spotted together since early May. Throughout the summer, they have been spotted alone, so it’s wonderful to see them back together.
“For our guests to experience them up close truly is a once-in-a-lifetime moment that won’t be forgotten. It’s been such a special and emotional day for everyone on board.”
