Wild orcas recorded traveling between Norway and Iceland for first time since Keiko’s journey

For the first time since the famous orca Keiko’s journey, wild orcas have been recorded traveling between Norway and Iceland. This significant milestone was highlighted in a new scientific article published in the journal Marine Mammal Science.

The study stems from ongoing research on orcas around the Snæfellsnes Peninsula, where a group of orcas, previously sighted multiple times in the area, has now been observed in both Norway and back in Iceland. This marks the first confirmed instance of wild orcas making this round trip. In contrast, Keiko, who was mainly under human care, swam from the Westman Islands to Norway during his acclimatization after spending years in inadequate conditions at marine parks in the United States.

There are over a thousand recorded images of orcas in data collections from both Iceland and Norway. Researchers note that, despite these extensive records, it has not been possible to conclusively identify orcas seen in both locations despite numerous attempts.

The study suggests that the photographs available may only represent a portion of the orca population found along the shores of Iceland and Norway, indicating that it is still possible orcas may have traveled between the two countries prior to this documented instance.