Table 3

Summary of Inuit interviewee information and observations of killer whale attacks on bowhead whales, and observations of dead bowhead whales that were killed by killer whales.

Observations and information on killer whale attacks on bowhead whales

Region

Foxe Basin

Hudson Bay

North Baffin

South Baffin

Total

Interviewees reporting first-hand observations

10

2

5

0

17

Interviewees reporting second-hand observations and stories

6

4

2

6

18

Interviewees providing descriptions of attacks and attack methods

10

4

3

4

21

Killer whales:

...circle the bowhead, to keep it from escaping while others attack

1

1

2

...hold the whale underwater and/or cover the blowhole, to drown it

8

2

2

12

...bite and hold on to the whale by the front flippers and/or tail flukes

5

1

2

8

...ram the whale in the side "to break ribs", and tear chunks out of the belly

5

2

2

4

13

Interviewees reporting dead bowhead whales that were killed by killer whales

16

1

5

22

Interviewees providing descriptions of dead bowheads

9

2

11

Hunters find dead bowhead whales:

...with killer whale teeth marks on the flippers, tail, belly, and baleen

3

2

5

...with large chunks torn out and their bellies ripped open

5

2

7

...that have broken bones, busted ribs

1

1

...that are fresh kills, still warm

3

3

...that are fresh enough for meat and muktuk to be collected from

2

2

...that were killed for fun and not eaten, wasted by the killer whales

4

4

...that are being scavenged by polar bears

1

1

Ferguson et al. Aquatic Biosystems 2012 8:3   doi:10.1186/2046-9063-8-3