Orca dies in Lana'i waters after apparent stranding

Advertiser Staff

One of two killer whales spotted Tuesday afternoon southeast of Lana'i has died, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration reported yesterday.

The orcas were discovered at 4:40 p.m. Tuesday by scientists doing research on humpback whales. One of the orcas appeared to be stranded in shallow waters, NOAA said.

The Coast Guard flew marine mammal specialists and members of the Hawai'i Marine Mammal Stranding Network to Lana'i, but the orca died before they arrived. The second orca has not been seen since Tuesday evening and apparently swam away, NOAA said.

A necropsy was conducted on the carcass of the orca, which was about 4,000 pounds, but the cause of death has not yet been determined.

NOAA said there were no signs of trauma or obvious causes of death.

The orca was buried on a remote part of the island, NOAA said.

Orcas are not frequent visitors to Hawaiian waters, although sightings occur about once a year.