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TWO KILLER WHALES have been spotted off the coast of Kerry.
A member of the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group (IWDG), Nick Massett, headed out to Dingle Bay on Monday morning and initially spotted a group of common dolphins.
However, upon further examination, Massett discovered a pair of very tall, black dorsal fins, indicating that there were two killer whales in the water.
One of the whales was identified as John Coe, a killer whale that has made numerous appearances in Irish waters in recent years.
The IWDG reports that John Coe was seen exactly seven days previous in Scottish waters.
Speaking to TheJournal.ie, IWDG’s Sightings Officer Pádraig Whooley said that killer whale sightings in Irish waters are rare events, and they are getting even rarer.
“In the recent years, we’ve generally had three or four killer whale sightings per annum. We do get them every year but about seven or eight years ago we were getting a lot more sightings of killer whales,” Whooley said.
“In more recent years, we’ve had fewer sightings of killer whales. They may well be the same killer whales that we’re seeing every time. The sightings of them are certainly on the decline every year.”
Whooley said that the reasons for the decline are uncertain. The IWDG says this group of killer whales, which is made up of nine individuals, may soon become extinct as they’ve had no births in over 25 years.
“It may just be a glitch, maybe they’re just going elsewhere. You can speculate until the cows come home. There could be any number of complex reasons.”
When asked if locals will be able to catch a glimpse of the whales before they leave Irish waters again, Whooley said it is difficult to determine how long they will stay around for.
“They generally don’t hang around for long but there are always exceptions. In 2001, a group of three killer whales swam into Cork harbour and stayed pretty much for four months,” he said.
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Could they not provide any description of the suspects? This report is incredibly light on details especially given it is an “exclusive”.
@Steve Lennon: some taxi driver probably gave him the ‘exclusive’ in the cab that he got to work
@JimmyMc: it is quite stunning that a crime can be committed at this close quarters and no description given. Either that or the journalist has omitted such pertinent details.
@Steve Lennon: ‘news for the dumb’. Most people are here for the laugh in the comments
@Steve Lennon: it’s because they are black.
@james cullen: I can’t see any other reason why the journalist would cover up the description other than he is a PC journo looking to protect a non-national.
@james cullen: spot on was looking for the description in the article ‘ journal these men are criminals and the public wants to know their description what were they wearing what were their accents what is their ethnic group
So journal do your job properly and report the news as it is
@Steve Lennon: i thought all taxis had cameras no??
The new Irish ?
Advised to avoid picking up or dropping off in the area???
Collective punishment because of the recalcitrant behaviour of a tiny minority!
By who?
And if these two move to O’Connell St and Stephens Green should we shutdown the Taxi industry?
Plenty of cameras around Gardiner Street and several around Clonee area, should the Garda not concentrate on identifying and arresting the culprits?
@Jarlath Murphy: first three words of the article will answer your last question
@Jarlath Murphy: Taxi drivers with any sense will stop picking up young men of a certain ethnicity behind this spate of crime – and then be identified and vilified in the media as being racist. No wonder people are so fed up and angry with all this.
@Paul: And while they investigate should the Taxi industry shut?
@Jarlath Murphy: “should the Garda not concentrate on identifying and arresting the culprits?”
And what evidence or reason do you have for thinking they aren’t doing so?
I guarantee the gardai know the cameras better than you do.
Now, do you realise that the journalist that wrote this article is not the investigating garda? Yes or no
It’s been going on a few months now. There is a gang of BLACK Teenagers doing it.
@Nicky Ryan (allegedly a journalist): are the suspects black? Why no description provided?
Dirtbags.
BLACKS. These two people were BLACK. The main part of the description. So the article should advise the taxi drivers to stop picking up young BLACKS.
Joxer Brown ~ of course not ! Most black people in Ireland are decent and hardworking, but unfortunately like all races, colours, creeds, there is an underbelly of thugs and gangs and if you lived in certain areas you would know ! or if you get taxis you would know , it is good journalism to say they were Black, just as it would have been to say they wore blue Nike runners, had Dublin accents, were 5ft 7′ with thick country accents , this is how people are caught, get real.
‘Exclusive’ it’s reported on other sites – get a grip journal
have your say