Hardy surfers and sea enthusiasts have been warned to avoid Cornish waters after two killer whales were seen just 100 yards from the coast. These killer whales have been described as “unpredictable” and could attack bathers or surfers thinking they were prey. The whales, identified as a mother and a calf were spotted near Padstow, which is around 15 miles away from the surfing hotspot of Newquay. Experts have warned that the mother may accidentally harm a human, or indeed attack whilst protecting its calf.

Don’t get in the Water

Advice from Peter Richardson of the Marine Conservation Society was to steer clear, “we wouldn’t recommend getting into the water with a killer whale.” Explaining the unpredictability of the whales, Richardson described them as “enormous super predators.” Whilst we know little about the movements and habits of killer whales, Richardson believes that they are searching for food, and these whales could have originated in Scotland.

Several Sightings

There have been several sightings of killer whales over the last ten days, which has caused concern, as they are relatively rare in the area. There has only been one confirmed case of a killer whale killing anything in Cornish waters, and that was a basking shark. Given that the whales are likely to be here for food and could be incredibly hungry, they are probably going to be very unpredictable, not stopping to check whether you are a wetsuit wearing surfer or a tastier treat.